Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts enters 2026 feeling physically restored after a stomach ailment last spring caused him to lose nearly 20 pounds and cost him an estimated 4 to 5 mph of bat speed, contributing to the worst offensive season of his career with a .732 OPS.

Back to approximately 180 pounds, Betts said his swing feels as consistent as it has in years.

"When I lost all that weight, I was down 10 mph in bat speed," Betts said. "Now that I've got my speed back, I don't have to hurry up and make decisions so fast."

Hitting coach Robert Van Scoyoc confirmed the bat speed loss was significant, estimating Betts fell 4 to 5 mph below his maximum levels. Betts' average swing speed sat at 67.5 mph through his first week last season and never fully recovered during the regular season, reaching 69 mph for the year before climbing to 69.5 mph during the postseason. The MLB average last season was 71.8 mph.

"The sickness kind of set him behind the eight ball," Van Scoyoc said. "He was playing and fighting uphill to try to get it back."

Despite his offensive struggles, Betts finished as a Gold Glove finalist at shortstop and started the double play that sealed the Dodgers' second consecutive World Series title. His defensive transition is no longer in question.

Manager Dave Roberts expressed confidence that Betts can return to MVP-caliber offensive production. Betts himself has embraced unconventional training methods this spring, working with Yoshinobu Yamamoto's personal trainer on mobility and stretching routines, including javelin throwing to refine his throwing motion.

"They definitely changed my perspective, changed my life, my game," Betts said. "When you're open-minded, there's endless possibilities."