With a roster showcasing winning attitude, the Dodgers are proving that teamwork trumps individual glory. Mookie Betts and Shohei Ohtani are both phenomenal athletes, but it’s Mookie’s sportsmanship in stepping back and letting Ohtani take the spotlight that made us love him a little more. This season, Betts has embraced a supporting role, and it’s paying off for the Dodgers in ways that fans couldn’t have imagined.

Mookie Betts, known for his incredible talent and hard work has an incredible virtue which is rarely seen: selflessness. While he could easily focus solely on his stats and accolades, he understands the bigger picture: winning as a team. Taking a step back, he allowed Shohei Ohtani to thrive. Betts has also claimed that he is only present on the field to win and support Ohtani in helping the Dodgers win. 

Mookie Betts powers the Dodgers to victory

The Dodgers fans were excited to have Mookie Betts on the field after such a long time. But their excitement got to its peak when they saw Betts in action after he hit two-run home run in the eighth inning that helped the Los Angeles Dodgers defeat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1 on Sunday in LA. After Richard Lovelady’s sinker hit Shohei Ohtani in the left forearm, Betts took the first ball he saw from the left-hander and drove it over the wall in left-center. Although it was Mookie Betts’ homer that led to the win, he did not give himself credit but was all praise for his teammate Ohtani. When asked about what keeps him consistent, Betts was quick to say that he is pretty consistent about winning. “I don’t know, I am pretty consistent and am only here to win and help Shohei carry us to the finish line,” he emphasized.

That reveals Mookie’s commitment to always putting the team above himself. Sadly for Betts’ fans, he was not on the field for nearly two months after fracturing his left forearm. “I was just looking for a strike to swing at. I’ve been getting a lot of strikes, especially early in the count,” Betts said on his first home run at Dodger Stadium since June 2.

“I knew it was a double at least, which would have gave us a chance to put one across the board. And so that’s all I really cared about. Just get us a lead and get into the ninth and finish it out,” Mookie Betts further added. Betts has had a fantastic career in MLB and in the Dodgers, and maybe, he is now letting the younger boys shine on the team, Ohtani being the first. 

Shohei Ohtani aims for historic 50/50 season

With proper guidance from Mookie Betts and the team veterans, Shohei Ohtani is reaching new heights every day. Recently, he became the lead hitter in the absence of Betts, admitting that they are big shoes to fill. Speaking on this, Mookie Betts claimed that Ohtani would fit in anywhere he chose to go, he did not care for the role, a take that further demonstrated the steadfast support between both teammates.

With 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases, the Los Angeles Dodgers star, Shohei Ohtani, may become the first player in Major League Baseball history to accomplish both feats. Ohtani has 40 stolen bases and 41 home runs with 31 games remaining. He became the sixth player in history to hit 40 home runs in a season when he crushed a walk-off grand slam on Friday. His current objective is to go down in history as the player with the greatest combined power and speed in a single season.

Shohei Ohtani will not be the lone member of a stat club for the first time. He has plenty of opportunity to reach the 50-home run milestone and pick up ten more stolen bases in the 31 games left in the season. Do you agree with Betts, that Ohtani will take the Dodgers to the finish line? Share in the comments.