LOS ANGELES – Mookie Betts’ uniform drapes make the two sizes too big. The gold “Dodgers” in the sagging chest. Just five days ago, he explained that his body was eating itself, revealing that he had lost nearly 20 pounds due to the stomach virus. The previous MVP, who has already attempted to move to an unprecedented shortstop, has entered this season with the additional challenge of competing often under his regular playweight.
But he’s still Mookie Betts. That was certainly true as he rounded up the base and fisted as his second home run on Friday surged into the left field pavilion at Dodger Stadium. His walk-off 3 Runblast secured an extra 8-5 victory for the Los Angeles Dodgers through the Detroit Tigers, which went against the imagination.
“He’s a superhuman,” Max Muncie said. “We’ve seen it many times, so I don’t think we’re shocked by it.”
Added manager Dave Roberts: “It wasn’t on my bingo card.”
The Dodgers are undefeated and untrustful, as they rode the height of their World Series title a year ago. Ring Night, Betts’ home run solidified its first 4-0 start since Roberts, now 52, sat in North Carolina’s third-year class in 1981.
Mookie Betts Walk Off Homer! can’t believe it! pic.twitter.com/ppyp5fpvcd
– MLB (@MLB) March 29, 2025
Their first two victories came with Betts on another continent. Due to the symptoms of the virus that I had been feeling even before the trip started, I returned early from the opening season in Tokyo. Betts vomited regularly, unable to contain solid foods for more than a week, requiring an IV bag at Tokyo Dome and a smoothie meal for nutrition while he continued exercising.
His status with the opening series at Dodger Stadium and the accompanying festive parade was at risk a few days ago. He slammed over the last few days so much food he could suck his stomach in order to regain his weight, even in the game.
“I just eat,” Betts said. “All day.”
He has only recovered about half the weight he lost. The regular playweight was 175 pounds, and 165 pounds on Friday. His first home run, a go-ahead explosion in the eighth innings, sneaking away Will’s best, the fence, drawing a playful snickers from his teammates. The pitch came in at 96.7 mph and left Betts’ bat at 95.8 mph. That was different.
“Now I’m just enjoying hitting a 160-pound homer,” Betts said.
The lead Betts gave the Dodgers was short-lived. Tanner Scott, the Dodgers’ high-priced free agent reliever, coughed along with the Tigers. Reviews of the replay judged in New York that Catcher Austin Burns tag caught Manuel Margott’s foot on the home plate, continuing to tie the game together and sent it into the innings.
The Tigers scored two points on the 10th, but the lead quickly evaporated. When the bet appeared at the bottom of the innings, there were runners one second and one third in the Thai game. Twice he kept counting perfectly by ruining the pitch from Detroit’s Beau Breeske. When Brieske’s eighth pitch in his plate caught too many plates, Betts golfed the changeup into his seat.
The bed erupted. The few weeks of his bubbled from within came out this time with emotion.
“It was very special,” Betts said. “I sound very selfish, but to me it sounds better. I was really proud of myself, not about losing weight, not about being lacking.
Mookie Betts celebrates with his teammates after his walk-off home run. (via Kirby Lee/USA Today Network Imaging Images)
The ballpark was already emotionally recharged.
The Dodgers turned Friday’s ceremony into a Hollywood event. Actor and comedian Anthony Anderson hosted the festival while enjoying Roberts for Ice Cube twerking during the parade last November. Academy Award voice Randy Thomas handled the formal introduction. Keith Williams Jr., a Los Angeles facility, led the lively production of “We Are the Champions.”
Roberts clapped with applause before Anderson could even say his name. The capacity crowd cried out for Clayton Kershaw, as they always do. They collectively called out Betts. The chant “Freddie, Freddie” began before the Governance World Series MVP rose to the top step. The building exploded for NL MVP Shohei ohtani.
It’s time to turn the pages into a historic meaning of repetition. But after three seasons of October failings between the titles, Roberts and the Dodgers wanted to enjoy things a little more with new jewelry.
The flashy Regalia tells the story. Eight diamonds line the sides, representing the championship for each franchise. That bottom, five more diamonds represent the five-run deficit that they overcame in five innings of Game 5 last year in the World Series.
Inside, there is part of the series’ base covered in the Dodgers logo. Around them are 34 sapphires to honor the late Fernando Valenzuela, who died a few days before the match against the New York Yankees.
Each player’s name and uniform numbers are immortalized within a hexagon that mimics the ballpark scoreboard, with the numbers covered in more diamonds. The interior features each player’s signature.
“It’s my favorite,” Betts said. “Hopefully we’ll get a little more and compare.”
(Photo above: Kirby Lee/USA Today Network via imaging images)
