Derek Jeter had recently said that—when you have the chance to finish the deal, you finish the deal. And this is what Mookie Betts seems to be doing. He was going to let the golden opportunity of making it to the World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers go amiss because of a slump. One thing was clear in his mind—things needed to change. So he decided to wholeheartedly work towards his goal.

The outfielder, who entered the postseason with subpar playoff statistics, decided to adopt a crazy workout routine. A routine that most won’t fathom doing. But the 0-for-4 in Game 2 of the NDLS was a ringer for him to wake up. So Betts started taking more than a couple hundred swings a day—almost 500. By now, anyone would be asking—is someone making him do this? But Betts has confirmed, saying, “No, that came from me.” According to him, no one recommends it! 

Mookie Betts’s insane batting practice will leave you in awe

Swinging 500 swings is a big feat and can tax the forearms, legs, and mind. But Mookie Betts just wanted to give it his best—leave no room for regrets. In an interview, he clarified his crazy routine, saying, “So I’m really just trying to do what I can to help us, and the last thing I want to do is not give it 100, 110 percent.” Moreover, for Betts, hitting is what keeps his brain sharper. But undoubtedly not an easy feat given that a normal pace during a batting session would be just five swings per minute. So his practice of 500 swings would take more than 100 minutes. 

Mookie Betts, approach is in stark contrast to his hitting mentor, J.D. Martinez, who tends to review each swing on the tablet after the attempt. However, for Mookie Betts, it’s all about volume rather than just reflection. “It just depends on where I’m at, what day it is, and what we’re working on. There’s not necessarily a method. It’s just madness in there.” said Mookie Betts. And the madness sure has delivered the results. Betts has broken the slump and has gone 12 for 34 this postseason. Plus, he has four home runs with a.353—making this his best playoff appearance to date.

Mookie Betts shuts out social media and shines again

Mookie Betts is an eight-time All-Star; he is an MVP winner and also a two-time World Series Champion. He played over 67 games postseason! So, the LA Dodgers fans had plenty of hopes for him. When he fell into a slump, in a rather crucial time the social media noises became too loud. Hence, Mookie Betts had deleted social media accounts. He removed it in the past week during his 3-for-44 postseason slump. 

Betts later told USA Today that, “You know, it’s tough to really escape everything because everyone’s watching—family, friends, you guys, everyone. There’s no real way to get away from it.” Betts moved away from the roars of social media, which can be pretty harsh and deafening, and not to mention it can wreck mental peace. He spent more time with his kids, family, and his wife. His teammates like Shohei Ohtani have openly supported him. Teoscar Hernandez best put it in words: “He’s just Mookie. He does special things.” 

The relentless swings, the quality time with his family, and also Betts getting that confidence to perform are what have helped him move over the slump. Now the playoff ghosts have vanished, and the hate on social media has just disappeared. 

Do you think the momentum will be up in the next game? Let us know who you are cheering for to make it to the World Series.