LOS ANGELES — After dealing with a difficult stomach virus that impacted him at the start of the season, Mookie Betts is back to full strength, reclaiming his role as a star player for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Now able to sustain his energy by eating well, Betts is making up for lost time, having shed several pounds while unwell.
“It’s good to remind people I’m still good at baseball,” Betts remarked as he demonstrated his prowess on the field. The seasoned outfielder hit two crucial home runs against the Detroit Tigers, including a decisive three-run blast in the 10th inning that led the Dodgers to an 8-5 comeback victory.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed his admiration, “That wasn’t something we planned for, but Mookie has a knack for the extraordinary.” With this victory, the Dodgers continue their strong start, boasting a 4-0 record for the first time since their 1981 World Series-winning season.
Betts, an eight-time All-Star, celebrated his third career walk-off home run and his first homer of the season, a shot that helped the Dodgers take the lead in the eighth inning. “It’s amusing to hit homers at 160 pounds,” he joked.
That night, Betts excelled with three hits in five at-bats, scoring three runs and collecting four RBIs. This performance happened on the same evening the Dodgers received their coveted World Series rings.
“We joked that given his current strength, his first homer might have been the best he could do,” said third baseman Max Muncy. “But he outdid himself—proving us wrong.”
Earlier in the season, Betts traveled with the team to Japan for their series opener against the Chicago Cubs. Unfortunately, he fell ill and had to return prematurely, suffering a weight loss of about 15 pounds due to his illness.
Currently weighing 165 pounds, Betts emphasizes his determination to regain his ideal weight, stating, “Another seven or eight pounds will be hugely beneficial, but ideally, ten.” His plan is straightforward—”Just keep eating. I eat all day, thanks to my chef and wife’s creative cooking, even during games.”
Betts experienced considerable stress during his illness, particularly when he couldn’t eat, and he wasn’t sure what was happening. Pounding his fist as he rounded the bases after his game-winning home run, he released the stress that had accumulated during his recovery.
“It was an emotional moment for me,” Betts admitted, “a culmination of ups and downs, sleepless nights when I was so sick, crying with my wife comforting me. That’s why it meant so much.”
Approaching home plate, Betts raised his arm victoriously, tossed his helmet to the dugout, and hopped with joy as his elated teammates doused him with water.
“Couldn’t be prouder of Mookie, he carried us today,” Roberts remarked.
Betts came up to bat in the 10th following consecutive singles by Will Smith and Shohei Ohtani. On knowing Ohtani was in scoring position due to defensive indifference, Betts felt less pressured. “Another at-bat was still available with Freddie Freeman on deck—a player known for thriving in critical situations. It was a relaxed moment: succeed if you can, but it’s OK if you don’t.”
Betts embraced the pressure, delivering a win for his team. “While it might come across as selfish,” he confessed, “I felt genuinely proud of myself tonight.”