Mookie Betts potentially in rare territory as Dodgers shortstop - ESPN

Mookie Betts will play in less familiar territory this season as the Los Angeles Dodgers face the San Diego Padres in South Korea on Wednesday (6:05 a.m. ET on ESPN).

Earlier in spring training, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced that Betts, who has primarily appeared in the outfield throughout his career, will switch to shortstop. Roberts said the move is «permanent, for now.»

Betts spent time between playing outfield, shortstop and second base last season — he started 12 games at shortstop. He also started 13 games at the position in the minor leagues.

Only one player in MLB history has started 100 games at shortstop in a season after winning a Gold Glove in the outfield, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Tom Tresh did in 1968 for the New York Yankees. Betts is a six-time Gold Glove winner as an outfielder.

Betts can also become the fifth player in the expansion era (since 1961) to primarily play shortstop in a season for the first time in his career after turning 30 years old, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

Here's a look at how the other four fared.

Stats: 81 starts, 107 games played

The current New York Mets shortstop spent most of his career playing at second and third base. Last season with the Miami Marlins, 33-year-old Wendle had 218 assists and 46 double plays, both the second-most of his career. However, he had a career-low .212 batting average with 20 RBIs and two home runs.

Stats: 64 starts, 69 games played

Similar to Wendle, Carroll had rotated from second and third base during his career. Then with the Dodgers, when they were without a shortstop in 2010, he became part of the rotation.

His 64 starts at the position that season are the highest of his career. He split time with Rafael Furcal,