Mookie Betts was on a Hall of Fame track with the Boston Red Sox and has continued performing at an elite level as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
In six seasons with the Red Sox, Betts was a four-time All-Star, four-time Gold Glove Award winner and the 2018 American League MVP. He hit an exceptional .301/.374/.519 for the team with 394 extra-base hits and 470 RBI over 794 games.
Since joining the Dodgers, Betts has arguably put up even better numbers. Through 500 games, he’s batting .289/.379/.547 with 127 doubles, 10 doubles, 119 home runs, 309 RBI and 54 stolen bases.
Betts has quickly climbed the leaderboards among the franchise’s all-time greats as his 412 runs scored, 256 extra-base hits and 1,069 total bases are the most in a player’s first 500 games with the Dodgers since at least 1901, via Sarah Langs of MLB.com:
today was Mookie Betts’ 500th game with the Dodgers
his 412 runs, 256 extra-base hits and 1,069 total bases are each the most in a player’s first 500 games with the Dodgers (since at least 1901)
by a lot! here’s next-most in each:
R: Jackie Robinson 388
XBH: Johnny Frederick…— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) April 27, 2024
In addition to his production on the field, Betts has taken home several accolades with the Dodgers. He’s earned All-Star selections in all but one of his four seasons in L.A., with the only exception being the shortened 2020 campaign that did not have a Midsummer Classic.
Betts has also won three Silver Sluggers and two Gold Glove Awards with the Dodgers, while finishing in the top five in MVP voting three times.
If Betts keeps producing at his current pace, he will be the odds-on favorite to win NL MVP honors this season. He entered play Sunday hitting an MLB-best .391/.489/.661 with nine doubles, two triples, six home runs and 23 RBI in 29 games.
Mookie Betts prefers to ‘overwork’
Betts’ ability to seemingly get better each year does not surprise his Dodgers teammates or coaches in the slightest. The 31-year-old is one of the hardest workers in the league and takes his preparation very seriously.
Betts recently acknowledged that he might work too hard at times but would rather over prepare than take a day off.
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