Alex Cora Names Mookie Betts Official Leadoff Hitter Amid Andrew Benintendi's Historic Struggles

Nothing happened Friday night against the New York Yankees to make this declaration so urgently necessary, but Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora has made an official decision on who will be his leadoff hitter moving forward.

From now on, Mookie Betts will hit in the top spot for the rest of the season.

Mookie Betts will lead off for the rest of the season.
— Christopher Smith (@SmittyOnMLB) June 1, 2019

This plan worked for Boston last year en route to a World Series title and an AL MVP award for Betts, but Cora said over the winter that Andrew Benintendi would move to the leadoff spot, and he's been there all season. Until last night.

This is interesting. Cora had committed to Benintendi in the leadoff spot over the winter and stuck with it to this point. https://t.co/MLViY0rWV5
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) June 1, 2019

Well, things have changed, and it's an easier decision to make when you know what Betts is capable of. Benintendi is hitting just .267/.362/.438 in the first spot in the batting order, just not up to par for the defending champs.

Benintendi has been solid overall, but he's specifically been putrid leading off the game. In 2019, Benintendi is hitting .081 (3-for-37) in opening at-bats, and for his career, he's hitting .164 (9-for-55) in those scenarios.

It's always nice to get off to a good start and score early, and Benintendi just isn't doing that for Boston, which is why Betts is back in that spot with his quick-strike offensive ability.