Betts: Ovation from fans at Dodger Stadium 'a beautiful thing'
It's been a tumultuous season for Mookie Betts, but Los Angeles Dodgers fans haven't given up on the star.
Betts was greeted with a warm reception at Dodger Stadium the past two nights as fans encouraged the outfielder turned everyday shortstop whose season began with an illness that caused him to lose nearly 20 pounds and whose stepfather recently died.
"It's been a beautiful thing," Betts said of the ovations after going 3-for-4 in Tuesday's 12-6 win over the St. Louis Cardinals, according to Doug McKain of Dodgers Nation.
"Thank you to all the Dodger fans. It's super special. It's the first time I've ever gotten anything like that. If I'm in this situation, I know Dodger Stadium is behind me."
The 2025 season has easily been the worst campaign of Betts' 12-year career. He owns career-low marks in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, wRC+, isolated power, and offensive rating.
His month-to-month splits have also been discouraging for a Dodgers squad trying to hold on to top spot in the NL West.
| MONTH | G | HR | RBI | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March/April | 28 | 4 | 19 | .746 |
| May | 25 | 4 | 12 | .738 |
| June | 25 | 1 | 10 | .633 |
| July | 21 | 2 | 5 | .586 |
| August | 5 | 0 | 2 | .428 |
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is hopeful Betts will turn things around based on what he's seen from the eight-time All-Star at the plate, which could be a good sign for the club during its playoff push.
"The hits are kind of Mookie-esque, as far as hitting the ball hard to the pull side," said Roberts, according to MLB.com's Sarah Wexler.
"Up the middle, hitting it flat to the shortstop's left, that's kind of what he does. And the misses are the right misses. When he's popping it up to the first baseman, or shallow to right field, those aren't his misses. And so when he's taking the swings that he's accustomed to taking, then I feel like it's sustainable."