Dodgers superstar details how rough season has changed him mentally

For Mookie Betts, many would say it has been a season to forget. 

Despite his feeble statistics, the Los Angeles Dodgers' shortstop admitted in a recent interview that he will remember the 2025 campaign as a game-changer.

The 32-year-old is struggling through the worst season of his 12-year MLB career, entering Saturday's action with an OPS+ of 90, well below his career 135 mark. Moreover, the seven-time Silver Slugger is slashing just .239/.309/.371, all numbers that would be career lows should they remain at that level.

Betts, however, has redirected his focus to not just boost his numbers but also help the Dodgers return to the World Series.

He told The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya that he considered his season "kind of over. We’re going to have to chalk that up for not a great season." 

That's tough to hear when the Dodgers still have 46 games to play and head into Saturday's matchup with the Toronto Blue Jays just three games ahead of the San Diego Padres in the National League West.

Betts added that, while it may be too late for him to turn his season around, he knows he can still help the Dodgers repeat as world champions.

"Obviously, everyone wants to have great seasons, but it’s a lot easier when you just don’t worry about the season," Betts said. "You just worry about game to game. I’ll take this perspective for the rest of my career."

A change in perspective may do Betts and the Dodgers well in the regular season's final weeks. He's in the midst of a 12-year, $365 million deal that runs through the 2032 campaign, meaning he will likely end his career in Los Angeles. With that kind of capital invested in him, the Dodgers need him to rebound from his down season as quickly as possible, even if that means wiping the slate clean for 2026.

Nevertheless, Betts has batted second for the Dodgers in 94 of the team's 116 games this season. Additionally, the former American League MVP has hit in the leadoff spot for 10 games, a move designed to hopefully kickstart his performance. The move didn't work, though, as Betts hit just .186 during the experiment.

While Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has had every reason to move Betts down in the order, he recently told reporters that "... for me, it’s really not giving him any out, appreciating he’s the best option we have near the top."

Whether Betts' revised mentality can assist the Dodgers is something to watch for the remainder of 2025 and beyond.