There’s one element of modern baseball Mookie Betts doesn’t like.

While Betts generally agrees with baseball’s current state — citing the inclusion of the pitch clock, enlarged bases, and the automated ball-strike system (ABS) — Betts wants to eliminate position players pitching in games.

“Once position players come in (to pitch), just call the game,” Betts told Sports Illustrated during the All-Star break. “That’s pretty much it. Once you’re down 10 and the position player comes in, just call it a day.”

Position players toeing the mound has increased in recent seasons. The phenomenon happened just three times in 2008. In 2019, the occurrence leapt to 90, before reaching an all-time peak of 132 in 2022.

MLB updated its rules on position players pitching ahead of the 2023 season, only allowing it in extra innings, if the team is trailing by eight or more runs at any point, or if the team is winning by 10 or more runs in the ninth inning.

Previously, position players could pitch at any time if one team was up by six runs or more.

Position players pitched 131 times in 2025 after shrinking for a couple of years following the rule change.

At the halfway point of the 2026 season, there have been 83 appearances by position players on the mound by 39 different players.

Colorado catcher Brett Sullivan leads the pack with six innings in five appearances.

“It’s a lose-lose,” Betts added. “You get a hit, you’re supposed to. But it’s so hard to get a hit. It’s so hard to get that hit.

“And then if you get out, ‘ah, you got out by a position player.’ I’d rather just go home at that point.”