Betts wasdrafted by the Red Sox in2011 and made his MLB debut in the 2014 season, splitting time betweensecond base and theoutfield. He became the Red Soxcenter fielder in 2014, before moving to right field in 2016. In 2020, after six seasons with Boston, he was traded to the Dodgers and signed a 12-year, $365 million extension with the team through the 2032 season.
As arelatively short second baseman with a high contact rate and a high level of production whenpulling the ball, Betts has been compared to former Red Sox teammateDustin Pedroia.[3] In 2018, Betts became the first player in MLB history to win the Most Valuable Player, Silver Slugger, Gold Glove,batting title, andWorld Series in the same season. He has won the2020,2024, and2025 World Series with Los Angeles. Betts is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of his generation.[4][5]
Markus Lynn "Mookie" Betts was born on October 7, 1992, inNashville. His parents chose his name in part forming the initials MLB, matching those of Major League Baseball.[7] He has attributed his nickname Mookie to his parents watching formerNBA guardMookie Blaylock play basketball shortly after Betts was born. Betts has said that he has never met Blaylock.[8] WhenLittle League Baseball coaches refused to accept Betts because of his small size, his mother started her own team so that her son could play.[9]
At Overton, Betts was also a standout basketball player, named MVP of the District 12-AAA league his senior season while averaging 14.1 points, nine assists, four rebounds, and three steals per game;[11] he was named Class AAA All-City Player of the Year for theNashville metropolitan area.[12] His junior year, Betts was named MVP of the District 12-AAA tournament.[13] Betts also excelled in bowling, named the Tennessee Boys Bowler of the Year in 2010 with a high score of 290. He grew up bowling at the Donelson Strike and Spare inDonelson, Tennessee.[14]
Betts started the 2013 season with theGreenville Drive of the Low ASouth Atlantic League. In 76 games, Betts batted .296,[20] with a 19-game hitting streak,[21] and was selected to the South Atlantic League All-Star Game.[22]
On July 9, Betts was promoted to theSalem Red Sox of the High ACarolina League,[23] batting .341 in 51 games to complete the 2013 season, with a combined .314 average in 127 games between Greenville and Salem, with 15 home runs and 38 steals.[20] He was named Offensive Player of the Year and Breakout Player of the Year in the Boston minor league system,[24] leading all Sox minors players with a .506 slugging percentage, while his .314 batting average ranked him third behindAlex Hassan (.338) andGarin Cecchini (.322).[25] Betts was a second-team inclusion on the Baseball America Minor League All-Star Team for 2013, with the first-team selection for second base going toMarcus Semien, an infielder for theChicago White Sox.[26] Betts subsequently played 16 games for theSurprise Saguaros of theArizona Fall League, batting .271.[18]
Betts opened the 2014 season with thePortland Sea Dogs of the Double-AEastern League,[20] batting .355 in 54 games to lead the Eastern League through June 2. On June 3, Betts was promoted to thePawtucket Red Sox of the Triple-AInternational League,[27] batting .322 and reaching base in all 23 games with the PawSox.[28]
In 2013 and 2014, Betts reached base in 66 straight regular-season games plus five playoff games for a combined streak of 71 games.[29] Because official baseball streak records do not include playoff games, Betts' streak has been listed at 66 games;Kevin Millar andKevin Youkilis hold the official minor league record for consecutive games reaching base, at 71 games, with Minor League Baseball lacking data on the statistic before 1997.[30]
In mid-May, Betts began playing the outfield in addition to second base.[31] In 2013, four-time All-Star second basemanDustin Pedroia signed an eight-year, $110 million contract extension with the Red Sox, leading to speculation that the Red Sox would move Betts to a new position.[32][33]
Betts was promoted to the Red Sox on June 28.[34][35] He had previously been selected for theAll-Star Futures Game, but was replaced following his promotion to the major leagues.[36] Betts made his debut on June 29, recording his first major league career hit againstYankees starterChase Whitley in the fourth inning.[37] He hit his first home run on July 2 off theChicago Cubs'Carlos Villanueva.[38] He then was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket on July 19, whenShane Victorino was activated from thedisabled list,[39] and was recalled to Boston on August 1. Betts was optioned back to Pawtucket in August and recalled again on August 18.[40]
On August 29, Betts hit his first careergrand slam againstRays pitcherChris Archer atTropicana Field.[41][42] At age 21, Betts became the youngest Sox player to hit a grand slam in 49 years.[43][44] Betts spent most of the 2014 season playing in the outfield, but on September 11, managerJohn Farrell announced that Betts would play second base "fairly regularly" following injuries to regular second basemenDustin Pedroia andBrock Holt.[45]
Betts split the 2014 season fairly evenly among Double-A, Triple-A, and MLB, playing 52 major league games. He performed well for the Red Sox, hitting.291 with five home runs. He played over half his innings incenter field.[46]
Betts makes a leaping catch to depriveBryce Harper (off-field) of a home run on April 13, 2015.
On April 6, 2015,Opening Day for the Red Sox against thePhiladelphia Phillies, Betts hit a home run in his second at-bat, becoming the third youngest player to hit a home run on Opening Day for the Red Sox.[47] On April 13, in the home opener atFenway Park against theWashington Nationals, Betts arguably had the most exciting performance of his career. He robbedBryce Harper of a home run, stole two bases on one play, and hit a home run into theGreen Monster seats, all in the first three innings.[48]
Betts was named theAmerican League (AL) Player of the Week for the week ending on June 21. Within that week, Betts batted .581 (18-for-31) with two home runs, two triples, three doubles, seven RBI and eight runs. He led the AL in batting average, hits, on-base percentage (.594), total bases (31), and slugging percentage (1.000) that week.[49] In the latter part of the season, he spent some time in right field, leading to speculation that he would move there permanently to allow teammateJackie Bradley Jr. to take over in center field.[50] Betts ended the 2015 season with a .291 batting average, with 92 runs scored, 77 RBIs, 18 home runs and 21 stolen bases.[51]
Betts was selected to the2016 MLB All-Star Game, the first of his career.[52] He started in right field and was 1-for-2 with a single, and a RBI.[53][54] Betts was named theAL Player of the Month for July, when he batted .368 with five home runs, 15 RBIs, five stolen bases and a 1.068 OPS in 23 games.[55] On September 20, Betts became the first player to reach 200 hits during the2016 MLB season.[56] In 158 games played, Betts finished the season with a .318 batting average, 214 hits, 122 runs scored, 42 doubles, 31 home runs, 113 RBI, and an MLB-leading 359 total bases. His 67 multi-hit games also led MLB.[57][58] He also was second in the league inpower–speed number (28.3).[59]
Prior to the 2017 season, Betts and the Red Sox were unable to come to terms on a contract. The Red Sox renewed Betts' contract with a salary of $950,000, up from $566,000 in 2016 and the second-highest pre-arbitration salary in MLB history.[64][17]
From September 12, 2016, through to April 19, 2017, Betts went 129 consecutive plate appearances without striking out. His streak ended againstFrancisco Liriano of theToronto Blue Jays.[65] On July 2, he tied an MLB record with eight RBIs from the leadoff slot in a 15–1 rout of the Blue Jays on July 2. He was selected to his secondAll-Star Game the same day.[66] Originally chosen as a reserve, it was announced on July 3 that Betts would start in place ofMike Trout, who was out due to surgery on his thumb.[67]
Betts ended the season with a .264 batting average, 101 runs scored, 26 stolen bases, 24 home runs, and 102 RBIs.[68] Betts led the Red Sox in each of those categories except batting average, as he batted just .236 from the All-Star break through September 4. Despite his solid stats on the season, Betts struggled to turn balls in play into hits. Hisbatting average on balls in play fell 54 points from its 2016 level to .268.[69] He also was third in the league in power–speed number (25).[70] He won his second consecutiveGold Glove Award.
2018 season: AL MVP and first World Series championship
Eligible forsalary arbitration for the first time in 2018, Betts filed for a $10.5 million salary while the Red Sox countered with $7.5 million. A three-person arbitration panel sided with Betts, giving him the $10.5 million salary for 2018.[71] Betts reportedly turned down an eight-year, $200 million contract extension offer.[17]
On April 17, 2018,Nick Cafardo ofThe Boston Globe published a column titled, "Mookie Betts orMike Trout: Who gets the nod?"[72] comparing Betts to Trout, a then-two-time MVP widely considered the best player in baseball.[73][74][75][76] Of the 10 professional evaluators Cafardo asked, seven chose Trout and three chose Betts.[72] "To be in the same conversation as a great player like that is an honor," Betts said.[72] That same night, Betts hit three home runs to lead the Red Sox to a 10–1 win over Trout'sLos Angeles Angels.[77] It was the third three-homer game of his career, tying him withTed Williams for the most in Red Sox history.[77] Betts broke the tie with Williams and set the franchise record on May 2, hitting three home runs in a 5–4 win over theKansas City Royals.[78] He became the first player in MLB history to produce four three-homer games before the age of 26.[78]
Betts with the Red Sox in August 2018
By May 20, Betts had amassed a major league-leading 15 home runs. He led MLB in batting average, slugging percentage,OPS, total bases, extra-base hits, doubles, runs scored, runs created, and OPS+.[79] He credited hitting coachesTim Hyers andAndy Barkett as well as teammateJ. D. Martinez for his improvement.[80] He 4.3WAR at the end of May, as calculated byFanGraphs, led the majors.[81] On June 1, Betts was placed on the 10-daydisabled list, retroactive to May 29, with a left abdominal strain. He returned to the active roster on June 11.[82] On July 6, Betts hit his 100th career MLB home run.[83] He became the fourth Red Sox player to hit 100 home runs before turning 26, the others beingTony Conigliaro,Jim Rice, andTed Williams.[83] On July 8, while batting .343 with 22 home runs and 44 RBIs,[84] Betts was named to theAll-Star Game as an AL starting outfielder.[85] On August 9, hehit for the cycle, becoming the 21st player in Red Sox franchise history to accomplish the feat.[86][87][88] On September 26, Betts stole his 30th base of the season, becoming just the second player in Red Sox history to join the30–30 club (the first wasJacoby Ellsbury in 2011).[89]
Betts finished the season leading the major leagues with a .346 batting average, a .640 slugging percentage, and 129runs scored. For the season, he had the highestbatting average on balls in play (.373) of all major league players.[90] He also was second in the league inpower–speed number (31).[91] He had the highest fielding percentage among major league right fielders, at .996.[92] The Red Sox finished the year at 108–54 and went on to win theWorld Series over theLos Angeles Dodgers.[93] In the postseason, Betts hit 13-for-62 (.210) with one home run and four RBIs.[94] During the Game 4 of theALCS, Betts made a leaping attempt to catch a would-be home run byJose Altuve of theHouston Astros, and Altuve was ruled out due tofan interference.[95][96]
Betts won his third consecutive Gold Glove,[97] theHeart & Hustle Award,[98] and the AL MVP Award, receiving 28 of 30 first place votes, making him the only player in MLB history to win the World Series, a Gold Glove, aSilver Slugger Award, batting title, and MVP in the same season.[99][100]
Betts and the Red Sox agreed on a $20 million salary for the 2019 season, avoiding arbitration.[17] Before the season, managerAlex Cora stated he would useAndrew Benintendi as the team'sleadoff hitter, with Betts batting second, swapping their positions from the team's usual 2018 batting order.[101] At the beginning of June, Cora announced that Betts would again be the team's leadoff hitter since Benintendi went just 3-for-37 in the leadoff spot.[102] At the end of June, Betts had a .261 average with 13 home runs and 37 RBIs. He was selected as a reserve outfielder to theAll-Star Game.[103] On July 26, Betts had the fifth three-homer game of his career, hitting a home run in each of his first three at bats againstJames Paxton of the Yankees.[104]
For the season, Betts appeared in 150 games, batting .295 with a .915 OPS, 135 runs scored (leading the major leagues), 29 home runs, 80 RBIs, 40 doubles, and 16 stolen bases in 597 at-bats. Defensively, he led major league right fielders with 15Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and a .996fielding percentage.[105][106] Betts won his fourth consecutive Gold Glove and his third Silver Slugger. He finished eighth in AL MVP voting.[107][68] Betts and the Red Sox agreed to a $27 million salary in January 2020.[17][108]
The 2020 season was delayed and shortened from 162 games to 60 due to theCOVID-19 pandemic. On July 23, Betts was the starting right fielder, making his Dodgers debut onOpening Day against theSan Francisco Giants, getting his first hit, a single, as a Dodger against relieverTyler Rogers.[112] On July 31, Betts hit his first home run as a Dodger againstArizona Diamondback starterZac Gallen.[113] On August 13, Betts hit three home runs against theSan Diego Padres, his sixth career three-homer game, tyingSammy Sosa andJohnny Mize as the only players in MLB history to accomplish this feat.[114][115] Later that month, Betts hit two home runs and stole two bases against theColorado Rockies, becoming only the 19th player (and first Dodger) to have a multi-homer, multi-steal game.[116][117] On August 27, he reached 1,000 MLB career hits.[118]
Betts finished the season hitting .292/.366/.562 with 47 runs (fourth in the NL), 16 home runs (third), 39 RBIs, a .928 OPS, and 10 stolen bases.[68] On his way to his secondWorld Series title in three years, Betts made three straight series-saving defensive gems in elimination games for the Dodgers in theNational League Championship Series (NLCS) against theAtlanta Braves.[119] In theWorld Series clincher, Betts scored twice and hit a home run. Betts also homered in Game 5 of the2018 World Series, when the Red Sox went on to clinch. He became the ninth player to homer in multiple World Series-clinching games, and just the second to do it with different teams, followingReggie Jackson.[120] His eight doubles in the postseason tied a major league record for most doubles in one postseason.
Betts won his fifth consecutive Gold Glove and his fourth Silver Slugger, both his first suchNational League (NL) awards.[121] He finished second inNL MVP voting behind Atlanta'sFreddie Freeman.[122]
Betts was selected to the NLAll-Star Team, his first appearance with the Dodgers.[123] He did not play in the game due to injury, dealing with back and left shoulder.[124] He played in 122 games for the Dodgers, with a .264 batting average, 23 home runs, and 58 RBI.[68] In the postseason, he had two hits in four at-bats in theWild Card Game, nine hits in 20 at-bats (.450) with one home run in theNL Division Series (NLCS), but slumped in theNLCS, batting 4-for-23 with one double and four stolen bases as Los Angeles lost to Atlanta.[94]
In mid-June, Betts cracked his rib and went on the ten-day injured list.[125] He was selected as a starting outfielder for the NL All-Star Team, his sixth appearance at theAll-Star Game, which was played atDodger Stadium.[126] On July 23, Betts hit his 200th career home run off ofAlex Wood of theSan Francisco Giants.[127]
Betts played in 142 games for the Dodgers in 2022, batting .269 with 35 home runs and 82 RBIs. He was tied for the league lead with 117 runs scored.[68] He finished fifth in NL MVP voting[128] and won his fifth Silver Slugger Award.[129] In his third consecutive postseason with the Dodgers, his poor hitting continued, batting 2-for-14 in a four-game NLDS loss to theSan Diego Padres.[94]
2023 season: Return to infield, seventh All-Star appearance
In 2023, as a result of injuries and under performance among the Dodgers infielders, Betts showed his versatility by playing significant time at second base and also made his first career appearance atshortstop, on April 21 against theChicago Cubs.[130][131][68]
Betts was again elected by the fans as a starter in theAll-Star Game.[132] Betts played in 107 games in the outfield, 70 games at second base, and 16 games at shortstop. He had a .307 batting average with a career high 39 home runs and 107 RBI.[68] He won his sixth Silver Slugger.[133] For the third consecutive series, Betts struggled in the postseason, batting 0-for-11 with one walk as theArizona Diamondbacks swept the Dodgers in theNLDS.[94]
2024 season: Position switches, third World Series championship
Heading intospring training in 2024, the Dodgers planned for Betts to be a full-time second baseman, as the team had more outfielders that they wanted to get playing time.[134] However, due toGavin Lux's poor defense at shortstop inCactus League games, on March 8, managerDave Roberts announced that Betts would instead be the Dodgers starting shortstop.[135] On June 16, Betts was hit in the left hand by a 97.9 mph fastball thrown byKansas City Royals pitcherDan Altavilla, fracturing it and necessitating a lengthy stay on the injured list.[136] He returned from the injured list on August 12, with the Dodgers announcing that Betts would return to right field for the rest of the season.[137] He played in 116 games, batting .289 with 19 homers and 75 RBI. He hit the lowest percentage ofground balls in MLB, at 27.0%.[68][138]
Betts (left), greetingDonald Trump (right) at the White House in 2025 with the 2024 World Series championship Dodgers team.
Betts batted .222 in theNLDS, but hit home runs in consecutive games on the road against theSan Diego Padres afterJurickson Profar robbed a Betts homer in Game 2.[94][139] In theNLCS against theNew York Mets, Betts had two home runs, nine RBI, and batted. 346. He then batted .278 in theWorld Series win over theNew York Yankees.[94] In Game 4 atYankee Stadium, two fans interfered with Betts catching a fly ball in foul territory near the outfield wall, ripping the ball out of Betts' glove. BatterGleyber Torres was ruled out, and both fans were ejected from the game.[140] The following night, Betts was involved in several key plays in the deciding Game 5, beating out an infield hit to drive in a run and set up the Dodgers big comeback in the fifth inning and then in the eighth inning driving in the eventual winning run on a sacrifice fly. It was Betts' third World Series championship.[141] He won his seventh Silver Slugger award, though this was the first time that it was as a utility player rather than outfielder.[142]
2025: Full-time shortstop, offensive slump, and fourth championship
The Dodgers and Betts decided that he would exclusively play shortstop for the 2025 season.[143] While he performed well defensively at the position, his offense remained in a slump for the majority of the season, something that frustrated him and he blamed on his hand injury from the previous season.[144] He also missed the start of the season after losing almost 15 pounds in March due to an illness.[145] His performance improved in the last couple of months of the season and he started to resemble his normal self.[146] Betts played in 150 games in 2025 (remaining at short stop all season), and slashed .258/.326/.406 while hitting 20 home runs and driving in 82 RBI.[68]
In the postseason, Betts had six hits, with three doubles in nine at-bats during theWild Card Series, four hits, including a triple, in 17 at-bats, in theNLDS, and two hits, one a double, in 15 at-bats in theNLCS.[68] In theWorld Series, he had four hits in 29 at-bats.[94] After being moved down in the lineup by Roberts, Betts had a key, two-RBI single in Game 6, which was the winning margin.[151] In Game 7, Betts started the game- and series-ending double play.[152] The Dodgers defeated theBlue Jays in seven games to repeat as champions, Betts' fourth World Series championship. He joinedGene Tenace,Mike Timlin, andJavier López as the only four-time champions who never played for the Yankees.[153]
Betts' first cousin, once removed isTerry Shumpert, who played parts of 14 seasons with several MLB teams. Shumpert is a cousin of Betts' mother.[158][a] In 2004, Shumpert spent his final season of professional baseball with the Triple-ANashville Sounds and worked extensively with Betts.[32][160][161]
Betts and his wife began dating in middle school. The couple welcomed their first child in November 2018. They announced their engagement in January 2021 and married on December 1, 2021, inPalos Verdes Estates, California.[162][163][164] Their second child was born in 2023.[165] Betts' wife is the president of his charitable organization, the 5050 Foundation.[166] They have a home inFranklin, Tennessee.[167] Betts purchased a mansion for $7.6 million inEncino, Los Angeles in November 2020, after joining the Dodgers. Football coachChip Kelly previously owned the mansion.[168] He bought a different Encino mansion in 2023.[169][170]
While with the Red Sox, Betts became known for his necklaces. One was a gift from a 13-year-old fan, given to Betts duringspring training in 2018.[171] He continued wearing the necklace after being traded to theLos Angeles Dodgers.[172]
In 2021, Betts said that he had "made the switch over tovegan" but by 2023 confirmed that he is no longer vegan.[173][174]
Betts participated in the production of a film focused on the life ofJackie Robinson. The film,Jackie Robinson: Get to the Bag, was shown in a preview event at a New York museum in August 2022.[178]
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