Mookie Betts facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mookie Betts
Betts with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024
Los Angeles Dodgers – No. 50
Outfielder / Shortstop / Second baseman
Born: (1992-10-07) October 7, 1992 (age 33) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Bats: Right Throws: Right
debut
June 29, 2014, for the Boston Red Sox
MLB statistics (through 2025 season)
Batting average	.290
Hits	1,767
Home runs	291
Runs batted in	913
Stolen bases	196
Teams
Boston Red Sox (2014–2019) Los Angeles Dodgers (2020–present)
Career highlights and awards
8× All-Star (2016–2019, 2021–2024) 4× World Series champion (2018, 2020, 2024, 2025) AL MVP (2018) 4× All-MLB First Team (2020, 2022–2024) 6× Gold Glove Award (2016–2020, 2022) 7× Silver Slugger Award (2016, 2018–2020, 2022–2024) AL batting champion (2018) Roberto Clemente Award (2025)
Medals Men's baseball Representing  United States World Baseball Classic Silver 2023 Miami Team

Markus Lynn "Mookie" Betts (born October 7, 1992) is an American professional baseball player. He plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Major League Baseball (MLB). He is known for being a versatile player who can play as an outfielder, shortstop, and second baseman. Before joining the Dodgers, he played for the Boston Red Sox.

Betts is considered one of the best players of his generation. He has won the World Series championship four times. He won his first title with the Red Sox in 2018. He later won three more titles with the Dodgers in 2020, 2024, and 2025. In 2018, he was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the American League. He is also an eight-time All-Star.

Betts is also a talented bowler. He competes professionally in the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) and has bowled a perfect game.

Early Life and Education

Mookie Betts was born on October 7, 1992, in Nashville, Tennessee. His parents named him Markus Lynn Betts so his initials would be "MLB," the same as Major League Baseball. He got the nickname "Mookie" because his parents liked watching former basketball player Mookie Blaylock.

Growing up, Betts was excellent at several sports. He played baseball, basketball, and bowling. When he was young, some Little League coaches thought he was too small to play. His mother formed her own team so he could play.

He attended John Overton High School in Nashville. In his junior year, he batted .548 and stole 24 bases. He was also a star basketball player and was named the MVP of his district. In bowling, he was named the Tennessee Boys Bowler of the Year in 2010. He signed a scholarship to play baseball at the University of Tennessee but decided to play professionally instead.

Professional Baseball Career

Boston Red Sox Era

Minor Leagues and Debut

The Boston Red Sox selected Betts in the fifth round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft. He signed with the team and began playing in the minor leagues. He played both shortstop and second base. He quickly moved up through the different levels of the minor leagues because of his strong hitting.

Betts made his MLB debut on June 29, 2014. He got his first major league hit against the New York Yankees. Later that year, he hit his first grand slam, becoming the youngest Red Sox player to do so in 49 years.

Rise to Stardom

Betts playing for the Pawtucket Red Sox in 2014

In 2015, Betts became the starting center fielder and later moved to right field. He was known for making exciting plays, including robbing home runs from other players.

In 2016, Betts was selected for his first All-Star Game. He finished the season with 31 home runs and 113 runs batted in (RBIs). He came in second place for the MVP award.

2018: MVP and First Championship

Betts with the Red Sox in August 2018

The 2018 season was historic for Betts. He led the major leagues with a .346 batting average and scored 129 runs. He won several major awards that year:

• The American League MVP Award
• The Silver Slugger Award (for being the best hitter at his position)
• The Gold Glove Award (for being the best defensive player at his position)
• The Batting Title (for having the highest batting average)

Betts became the first player in MLB history to win the MVP, Silver Slugger, Gold Glove, batting title, and World Series in the same season. The Red Sox defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers to win the 2018 World Series.

Los Angeles Dodgers Era

Trade and 2020 Championship

In February 2020, the Red Sox traded Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He signed a 12-year contract extension worth $365 million. This deal keeps him with the team through the 2032 season.

The 2020 season was shortened due to the pandemic. Betts helped lead the Dodgers to the 2020 World Series. He hit home runs and made incredible defensive plays during the playoffs. The Dodgers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays to win the championship. This was Betts' second World Series title.

2021–2023: Continued Success

Betts at the White House in 2021 with the 2020 World Series championship Dodgers team

Betts continued to be a top player for the Dodgers. He was selected for the All-Star Game in 2021, 2022, and 2023. In 2022, he hit a career-high 35 home runs. In 2023, he showed his versatility by playing second base and shortstop when his team needed help at those positions. He finished second in the MVP voting that year.

2024: Third World Series Title

In 2024, Betts moved to play shortstop and later returned to right field. Despite breaking his hand and missing some games, he returned to help the Dodgers in the playoffs. In the 2024 World Series, the Dodgers played against the New York Yankees. Betts played a key role in the deciding Game 5, driving in the winning run. The Dodgers won the series, giving Betts his third championship ring.

2025: Fourth Championship

Betts (left) greeting the U.S. President at the White House in 2025 with the Dodgers team.

In 2025, Betts played as a full-time shortstop. He won a Fielding Bible Award for his excellent defense. The Dodgers reached the World Series again, this time facing the Toronto Blue Jays. Betts had important hits in Game 6 and started a double play to end Game 7. The Dodgers won the series, making Betts a four-time World Series champion.

For his charity work off the field, Betts received the Roberto Clemente Award in 2025.

International Career

Betts (left) and Shohei Ohtani in 2025

Betts played for the United States national baseball team in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. The team reached the championship game but lost to Japan. Betts called the tournament "the best baseball experience" of his life.

Playing Style and Skills

Betts is known as a "five-tool player," meaning he excels at hitting for average, hitting for power, running speed, throwing, and fielding. He is unique because he is smaller than many other power hitters. He has excellent hand-eye coordination and rarely strikes out.

Outside of baseball, Betts is a professional bowler. He has competed in the PBA World Series of Bowling. In 2017, he bowled a perfect game, scoring 300 points.

Personal Life

Betts is married to his longtime girlfriend, whom he met in middle school. They were married in December 2021 and have two children.

Betts is distant cousins with former MLB player Terry Shumpert. He is also known for his charity work through his 5050 Foundation.

See also

In Spanish: Mookie Betts para niños

• List of Boston Red Sox award winners
• List of Los Angeles Dodgers award winners and league leaders
• List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
• List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle