The 2025 season marks Mookie Betts’ sixth with the Los Angeles Dodgers since his trade from the Boston Red Sox, and even as a superstar in MLB, he is continuing to grow and learn.
Now in the middle of his 12-year, $365 million contract, Betts has proven to be worth every penny for the Dodgers. During his time in L.A. thus far, Betts has hit .284/.372/.530 with 458 runs, 142 doubles, 132 home runs, 361 RBI and a 147 wRC+, all while helping the team win two World Series titles.
Despite being a key player for the Dodgers since the trade, Betts took time to fully embrace his role as a clubhouse leader. He understands the power he has to make the Dodgers better by helping his teammates become the best version of themselves.
“That’s not my job. It’s just something I take pride in doing. I’m here for a long time and I understand where I’m at in my career and how people view me,” Betts said when asked if he feels that its part of his responsibility to make Hyeseong Kim, Roki Sasaki and other newcomers comfortable.
“It took a little time to understand it, but I get it now. I understand I can help him feel comfortable and I’m going to do everything I can to make him comfortable. Because at the end of the day with him comfortable, that will be the best player in Kim that we can get.”
As for the toll that comes with dual duties of leadership and improving individually, Betts believes that it is his responsibility to figure out how to get the job done no matter what.
“Just got to do it. Just got to figure it out. It’s the cards you’re dealt. It’s what God has blessed me with, the ability to be a quote-unquote leader and perform. So I’m really just doing God’s work,” he said.
Gavin Lux ‘took a lot from’ Mookie Betts
Betts’ willingness to support his teammates may mean more than he realizes. In fact, Betts was one of the people whom Gavin Lux mentioned as someone he learned a lot from during his time with the Dodgers.
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