Days After Labeling MVP as “Irrelevant”, Dodgers Star Mookie Betts Celebrates NL Rival’s Historic Performance

2023 has been a wonderful time for the National League. While some teams have not fared as well as the others, The Los Angeles Dodgers and The Atlanta Braves have been on a historic run. Both teams are entering the postseason in style, with multiple players in talks for an MVP title. Mookie Betts or Ronald Acuña Jr. – who will it be? Or will Betts’ teammate Freddie Freeman clinch the award?

Whoever it is, the Dodgers’ right fielder isn’t too concerned. Having won the MVP with the Boston Red Sox in 2018, Betts knows what the hype is all about. While he recognizes what Acuña has accomplished this season, the slugger is downplaying the individual title over a team one.

Mookie Betts Would Prefer the World Series Over MVP

There is beauty in a team sport – while all members come together to fight for a single cause, individual recognition is always given. But for Mookie Betts, the whole is more important than a particular. Talking to reporters on Tuesday, the Dodgers player said, “MVP is cool, but it’s kind of irrelevant.”

“We play to win the World Series. Individual goals are really cool and some people play for that and there’s nothing wrong with that at all. But me, I play because I want to win. If I play good, cool. I would love to play well, but as long as we win, that’s all I care about.”

Incidentally, although he’s neutral about winning the award, Betts cannot deny the powerful presence of Ronald Acuña Jr. “There are so many guys that have played really good and there’s no argument to what Acuña has been doing.” Additionally, the LA star also reshared a post from MLB’s Instagram on the Braves youngster’s recent milestone.

Acuña recently became the first-ever major leaguer to have hit 40 home runs and have stolen 70 bases in a single season. With his record-breaking ways, who can deny the 4x All-Star an MVP?

Team Goals, Not Personal Ones, Are What Matter for Betts

Putting an organization above oneself is not an easy task. It requires an unwavering faith in their ability, but Betts does it easily. “You set goals and you want to achieve them. Do the goals matter at the end of the day, especially the personal ones? Not really,” is what the slugger believes. “But it was a goal that was set at the beginning and you kind of forget about it until the time comes.”

READ MORE – Ronald Acuña Jr. Dominates MVP Talks, but He Shows He’s No Mookie Betts with This Move

While it’s uncertain who will win the coveted award, fans know who Mookie Betts will be rooting for. And it’s not himself or his Dodgers teammate.

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