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Mookie Betts, a star right fielder, has been pressed into service at a position he hadn’t played in nearly a decade. So far, so good.

Credit...Jeff Chiu/Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — Mookie Betts was returning from paternity leave, his car was stuck in Chicago freeway gridlock for what seemed like an eternity and he arrived at Wrigley Field late for that night’s game.

The Los Angeles Dodgers knew in advance that Betts would miss the first pitch against the Cubs. And Manager Dave Roberts had put Betts on notice that once he arrived he was going to be playing shortstop for the first time in his major league career — and for the first time at any level in 10 years.

So which was more harrowing for Betts, an All-Star outfielder and Most Valuable Player Award winner: the anxiety of being caught in traffic while the game was starting, or playing shortstop in the majors for the first time?

“Cab ride,” Roberts guessed without missing a beat.

Roberts, in his ninth season as the Dodgers’ manager, is known for his superhuman-like communication with his players. But on this question, he whiffed.

“Nah, man, going out to short for the first time was definitely more nerve-racking,” Betts said over the weekend at Dodger Stadium, where he smashed two home runs, drove in three runs, scored three more and made his fifth start at shortstop while leading the first-place Dodgers to a three-game sweep of the slumping San Diego Padres.

Betts’s answer, though, came with a caveat: His debut at shortstop was more stressful because his late arrival prevented him from taking any ground balls before the game.

“It was just — bam!” Betts said.

Sometimes, Betts allowed, it’s best that way. Few things rattle him on a baseball diamond, and a decade into his big league career, his antics and abilities no longer surprise his teammates. So his regularly filling in at shortstop and second base, in addition to having his usual outfield duties, is exactly the kind of thing they would expect him to do, regardless of how ridiculous that sounds.

“I mean, the guy bowls 300s in the morning and comes in and hits home runs at night,” first baseman Freddie Freeman said, referencing one of Betts’ widely known hobbies. “The guy’s a special talent. He’s a complete team player, three different positions already this year in the first 37, 38 games. Switching positions and leading off every single day, it’s a tough task. But if anybody can handle it, it’s him.”

Betts’s increasingly frequent infield assignments are borne out of necessity. When last year’s Dodgers shortstop, Trea Turner, signed an 11-year, $300 million deal with Philadelphia in the off-season, the Dodgers made a conscious decision to step back with their own payroll. The idea was to reset their roster, give opportunities to prospects such as infielder Miguel Vargas and outfielder James Outman and parlay their years of winning — nine National League West titles in 10 years — without having to rebuild.

The Dodgers were not so much slashing their payroll as picking their spots. Though down from last year’s figure, a league-high $270 million, their $225 million payroll in 2023 still ranks fifth in Major League Baseball.

The idea was to play Gavin Lux, a homegrown player with a promising bat, at shortstop and Vargas at second. But when Lux suffered a season-ending knee injury in spring training, plans changed.

What the Dodgers were left with was Miguel Rojas, 34, a veteran acquired in a trade with Miami during the winter to help Lux adjust to shortstop, and Chris Taylor, a utility player more accustomed to the outfield.

Enter Betts, who had made occasional appearances at second base going all the way back to his rookie season in Boston. He grew up playing shortstop and had dreamed of one day doing so in the majors.

“I didn’t think I was actually going to end up playing short, but I always told them, like, ‘Hey, you know, I’m available to do it if push ever comes to shove,’” Betts said. “And push came to shove.”

Push coming to shove is a consistent, if sometimes unwelcome, intruder in the game. The Tigers famously moved center fielder Mickey Stanley to shortstop for the 1968 World Series, removing the light-hitting regular Ray Oyler. Stanley had never played the position before yet he managed it well and Detroit defeated the Cardinals in seven games.

Decades later, in 2012, Detroit had once again developed a vexing hole when Victor Martinez suffered a season-ending knee injury. Unlike Lux’s injury, Martinez’s happened well before the season started. So the Tigers signed the free agent slugger Prince Fielder and shoved an agreeable, but not particularly graceful, Miguel Cabrera from first base to third.

“You came up as a shortstop, this should be easy for you,” Dino Ebel, who was the Angels’ third-base coach that year and now has that role with the Dodgers, teased Cabrera when the their teams faced each other.

“He was like, ‘Yeah, here I am, playing the left side of the diamond again,’” Ebel said.

Betts was drafted as a shortstop by Boston in 2011, and unlike Cabrera he had the physique to stay in the position on a long-term basis. But with the All-Star Dustin Pedroia established at second base in the majors and Xander Bogaerts already in the Red Sox system, Betts moved to the outfield. Before his recent cameos, he had last played shortstop professionally in the Arizona Fall League in 2013 and had logged only 112 professional innings at the position.

His first appearance in Chicago had come because Rojas (hamstring) and Taylor (oblique) were injured. But he has now played seven games at the position, including five starts. He committed a throwing error Saturday against San Diego, but he has otherwise been flawless, including turning a slick double play while leaping over a sliding baserunner during his debut in Chicago. Advanced statistics suggest his defensive play at shortstop, in an admittedly small sample, has been close to elite, just as it is at second base and in right field.

The change in position has coincided with some extra pop at the plate as well: Three of his nine homers have come while playing shortstop.

Though Betts has won six Gold Gloves as a right fielder, it has never been a secret that he gets bored in the outfield. His favorite position, he said, “if you could just pick, it’d probably be short or second, either one. They’re very interchangeable for me. They get the most action and I just feel like that’s where my athleticism kind of plays the most.”

He added: “I just told them, ‘I’m a tool, use me.’ I’m here. It’s not like I’m fighting for my next contract. I just want to win.”

Part of that is the security afforded to him by a 12-year, $365 million deal ($30.4 million average annual value) he signed with the Dodgers ahead of the 2020 season. The deal has aged well compared to some of the megadeals handed out last off-season, even beyond Betts’ ability to shift seamlessly, and without complaint, to the infield whenever the team needs him.

Even once the Dodgers’ roster gets healthy, Betts has done the work to prove that he is capable of playing the infield in a meaningful number of innings, with Roberts estimating that he could get between 15 to 20 infield starts this season. That number could fluctuate based on performance and team need.

“When I saw him in spring training taking ground balls, right away I knew he takes things seriously and he’s not there just to mess around and have fun,” Rojas said.

Betts, who has taken daily ground balls at both second base and shortstop during batting practice for years, frequently compares notes with Rojas as they work together in the early afternoon. Before the series opener with the Padres on Friday, Rojas complimented Betts on using the right technique on a particular backhand play. Betts returned a compliment regarding Rojas’ proper positioning on a ball in front of him.

“He’s one of the best athletes I’ve ever seen,” Freeman said of Betts. “He wants to do whatever he’s asked to do, and he makes it look pretty easy.”

That confidence has permeated the clubhouse, with the ultimate endorsement coming ahead of the series finale in Chicago last month. Roberts was considering giving Betts his first start at shortstop, but with Clayton Kershaw scheduled to pitch, Roberts made sure to check with his ace to get his blessing.

“He was like, ‘I’m in,’” Roberts said. “And so at that point in time, I think it freed everybody up that if Clayton trusts him, then let’s just go and do it.”

Wherever the team puts him defensively, Betts exudes calm. It is why Roberts was sure the car ride from O’Hare Airport to Wrigley Field would have stressed Betts more than playing shortstop in the majors.

“I marvel not only at the mechanics of it, but the heartbeat of it,” Roberts said. “Because if you haven’t done something in a major league game, you would think there would be a little bit of extra anxiousness. But with him, there’s none.”

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- The owner of a popular Los Angeles seafood restaurant plans to open a fourth location at the site where the iconic Ruby's Diner once stood on the Huntington Beach Pier.

Many were shocked in 2021 when Ruby's had to shut down after the owner of the chain filed for bankruptcy.

Barbara Powelson grew up going to the diner.

"I was kinda shocked to hear, 'Oh my gosh, Ruby's is going.' It's one of the biggest parts, in my eyes, of Huntington Beach," Powerson said.

Construction on a refreshed look and concept began where Ruby's once stood on Wednesday.

The new restaurant was a dream more than 15 years in the making, according to the owner and founder of Broad Street Oyster Company, Christopher Tompkins. It all started when he first ate at the old Ruby's on the pier while on vacation.

"Live in California and work for myself, which morphed into this idea called Broad Street Oyster Company," Tompkins said.

At first, Tompkins' company started as a roaming seafood pop up.

"It would be myself and a van and I would set up a miniature restaurant outside of breweries and wineries, and it was really just me shucking oysters, making lobster rolls, cracking open fresh sea urchin. And I did that all along Southern California," Tompkins said.

In 2019, that turned into the first permanent location in Malibu, then came Santa Barbara, and then Grand Central Market.

And now, Huntington Beach.

"I can't think of a more fitting location for a seafood concept and for Broad Street Oyster Company," Tompkins said.

Tompkins said he also plans to start a fifth restaurant in San Francisco.

He hopes to welcome customers to a casual and family-friendly atmosphere in Orange County by July.

"We want to do a refresh, make it fun, make it inviting and make it on brand with Broad Street Oyster Company," Tompkins said.

Marianna May who was was visiting the area for the Association of Volleyball Professionals Huntington Beach Open said she'd enjoy seafood on the pier.

"We could have some seafood and just look at the beautiful view. I think it'd be really fun," May said.

"The photos on the outside of the building look very enticing. I'm definitely gonna come by and and try," Powelson said.

Tompkins said he has an ice cream and coffee shop concept next to one of his other locations and plans to eventually bring that to Huntington Beach as well.

LA Pride has announced that they will withdraw from the 10th annual Dodgers Pride Night celebration after the team announced they uninvited a group due to public backlash.

The massive nonprofit organization's decision comes hours after the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence had their invitation rescinded by the Dodgers organization due to noted outrage and criticism, notably from Catholic organizations and even Florida state Senator Marco Rubio.

"As a longstanding partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, we are very disappointed in their decision to rescind their invitation to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence to be honored at the 10th annual LGBTQ+ Pride Night," the organization said in a statement released on Twitter. "As a result, and in solidarity with our community, LA Pride will not be participating in this year's Dodgers Pride Night event."

The Dodgers' decision has been denounced on social media, with many quick to note how easily the team crumbled to pressure from groups like the Catholic League.

"Pride is a fight for equality and inclusion for the entire LGBTQ+ community and we're not going to stop now. Let's make this year's Pride celebration louder than ever," the statement said.

"Given the strong feelings of people who have been offended by the sisters' inclusion in our evening, and in an effort not to distract from the great benefits that we have seen over the years of Pride Night, we are deciding to remove them from this year's group of honorees," said a statement from the Dodgers on Wednesday.

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence have often been scrutinized by Catholic groups for their parodied performances, while dressed like nuns, that "use humor and irreverent wit to expose the forces of bigotry, complacency and guilt that chain the human spirit," according to their website.

"Some errant information presented by persons unfamiliar with our work needs clarification: We are a charity organization and we are human rights activists. Our mission is to uplift our community and all marginalized groups, especially the ones ignored by larger organizations, spiritually oriented or otherwise," said a statement released by the Sisters on their website on Wednesday.

They were among the many local organizations slated to receive a Community Hero Award from the team.

The team was targeted by the Catholic League and Senator Marco Rubio, who wrote a letter to Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred alleging that the group "mocks Christians through diabolical parodies of our faith."

Hours after the Dodgers decided to withdraw their invite, Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath took to Twitter to call out the team, "If they're not invited, I'm not going. Celebrating Pride is about inclusion. Do better."

Horvath is among the many politicians to band together and decry the decision, including Representative Robert Garcia and Assembly member Rick Chavez Zbur.

The City of West Hollywood also issued a statement on Thursday, which noted that they are "excitedly looking forward to the Los Angeles Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence participating in the WeHo Pride Parade" and that they "call on the Los Angeles Dodgers to reconsider its decision not to honor" the sisters at their Pride Night celebration.

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LOS ANGELES -- Dustin May is headed to the injured list with a right flexor pronator strain after leaving the Dodgers’ 7-3 win over the Twins on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium after just one inning.

The right-hander threw 16 pitches in a scoreless first, and his velocity was down across his arsenal, with his sinker averaging 94.7 mph, two miles per hour below his season average. He underwent an MRI after leaving the game, and will need additional testing to determine the extent of his injury. It’s not clear how long May might be out, though manager Dave Roberts suggested a month as being “fair as a floor.”

“Coming out of his last start, he felt that there was just normal soreness like any starting pitcher has,” said Roberts. “And obviously, he felt good enough to make the start. And then after that first inning, the velocity wasn't there and I saw him kind of moving his hand and those are the signs that something's not right.”

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Wednesday marked May’s 15th start since undergoing Tommy John surgery two years ago. He missed most of the 2021 and ‘22 seasons as a result of the procedure. In ‘23, May was starting to look like the pitcher he was prior to the operation, entering Wednesday with a 2.68 ERA in eight starts while leading qualified National League pitchers with the lowest hits per nine innings (5.4) and home runs per nine innings (0.2). He also led all Dodgers in bWAR, at 1.9.

“It's a big blow,” said Roberts. “My first [thought] goes to Dustin and what he's had to go through. … Obviously, he was a big part of this year -- and he still could be. But right now, to have this speed bump with him, I know he's disappointed.”

Starting pitcher injuries have been a recurrent issue for the Dodgers this year. Tony Gonsolin began the season on the injured list with a sprained left ankle, missing nearly four weeks. Michael Grove is on the 15-day IL with a right groin strain, while Ryan Pepiot (left oblique strain) and Walker Buehler (Tommy John surgery) are on the 60-day IL.

Although the Dodgers are not ready to name a replacement for May, given those absences, they will probably need to turn to their farm system when his spot comes up on Monday in Atlanta.

Right-hander Gavin Stone is the most likely candidate, as he is on the 40-man roster and has already made a spot start for L.A. this year. In his Major League debut against the Phillies on May 3, the Dodgers’ No. 4 prospect allowed five runs (four earned) in four innings. There’s also Bobby Miller, ranked by MLB Pipeline as the organization’s top pitching prospect, although he’s struggled with Triple-A Oklahoma City, posting an 8.64 ERA through his first three starts.

Beyond the impact on the rotation, May’s early exit also meant extra work for an already-taxed bullpen, as relievers had been responsible for 13 innings in the first two games of the series, including eight in Monday’s 12-inning matchup. They got a big boost from Dylan Covey, whose contract was selected from Oklahoma City prior to the game. Covey took over for May and threw four-plus innings of two-run ball.

“Covey was great,” said Roberts. “He was fantastic. … For him to go [four-plus] innings and keep us in the ballgame, give us a chance to win, was huge, and I couldn't be more happy for him and us.”

Covey’s day ended after he allowed a home run then loaded the bases on two singles and a walk in the top of the sixth, though Victor González was able to keep those runners from scoring and preserve his teammate’s line.

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Although the circumstances around it were suboptimal, Covey’s appearance was huge for him on a personal level. The right-hander hadn’t pitched in the Majors since 2020, having spent the past two seasons pitching in Taiwan’s CPBL. And to make his return with the Dodgers of all teams was particularly meaningful for the native of Pasadena, Calif.

“Today was really special,” said Covey. “I mean, I grew up 15 minutes up the road. I grew up a Dodger fan. A couple of years ago, I didn't ever think I'd be back in this situation. But yeah, it's really special playing for the hometown team. My family's here and got to see me, so just special.”

The Chargers will kick off Organized Team Activities on Monday, marking another step closer to training camp, the preseason and ultimately the 2023 regular season.

Preparation will continue to ramp up until then, as veterans and rookies are both in the building to continue the voluntary offseason program.

While roster moves can still be made at any point throughout the entirety of the offseason, the Bolts have the core of the team that they'll take into training camp — and one area of the roster is drawing headlines.

The Chargers wide receiver room, which already featured Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Josh Palmer and others, got even more juice with the addition of first-round pick Quentin Johnston.

Add in quarterback Justin Herbert and first-year Chargers Offensive Kellen Moore, and the Bolts passing offense has many excited about their potential.

That includes Dalton Wasserman and Jim Wyman of Pro Football Focus, who ranked the Chargers passing offense as the team's biggest strength ahead of the regular season.

They wrote:

Not only does Justin Herbert have the likes of Mike Williams and Austin Ekeler to throw to, but the team found a way to keep Keenan Allen and add Quentin Johnston in the draft. With so many weapons on offense and the addition of Kellen Moore as offensive coordinator, the Chargers will field a dangerous passing attack.

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The Chargers offense was hampered by injuries in 2022 but Herbert still had the second-most passing yards in the NFL.

The addition of Johnston, a big and home-run threat receiver, could open up a lot for Moore in his new offense. With the ball in his hands, Johnston has the ability to turn any small gain into a big play due to his ability to run after the catch and break tackles.

To Wasserman and Wyman, this makes Johnston the top choice for rookie to watch on the Bolts.

Wasserman and Wyman wrote:

Johnston was the star of a loaded receiver room at TCU, and he'll now be receiving targets alongside Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and Austin Ekeler from Justin Herbert. Johnston is a good after-the-catch receiver, especially for his size, and should give opposing defenses headaches.

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With the offensive side of the ball getting the majority of the attention, Wasserman and Wyman looked to the defense for another group to watch that could dictate a lot of the Chargers season.

In the secondary, the Bolts were able to produce down the stretch of the season and become one of the best passing defenses in the NFL. Led by Derwin James, Jr., Asante Samuel, Jr. and Michael Davis, the unit was able to be productive even amidst the injuries that hit the group.

PFF's biggest X-factor for the Chargers in 2023 is cornerback J.C. Jackson, who has been in the team facility rehabbing from a knee injury suffered in Week 7 last season.

Wasserman and Wyman believe a return to form sometime this upcoming season for Jackson could provide a huge boost to the Bolts roster and create a force in the secondary.

They wrote:

The former Patriots standout is going to be relied upon heavily to regain the form... And if he does, the Chargers will have an elite cornerback duo with him alongside Asante Samuel, Jr.

Overall, PFF had the Chargers ranked as the No. 9 team in the NFL in terms of roster rankings.

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