Mookie Betts displays on his time with Pink Sox, disputes ‘narrative’ he wished to go away

There was working onto the outfield for the primary time as a fresh-faced, 21-year-old rookie in 2014. His game-saving catch to seal Wealthy Hill’s complete-game victory again in September 2015. 

There was his grand-slam blast in opposition to the Blue Jays on the thirteenth pitch of his at-bat again in July 2018. And, after all, his contributions that October that led to Boston’s fourth World Collection title within the final 20 years.

However in what’s going to mark his first journey to Fenway Park since September 2019, Betts is focusing extra on the relationships he’s cast alongside the way in which, fairly than his achievements out on the sector.

“There’s plenty of reminiscences which might be floating round up there on the prime,” Betts stated from the Fenway Park interview room Friday afternoon. “However I believe most of it’s the folks. The followers, the entrance workplace, the gamers. … The clubbies.

“The people who park our vehicles. These are the people who I keep in mind probably the most that made my keep right here so pleasing. Baseball clearly, it’s what it’s proper? It’s my job. However the persons are what made it so pleasing.”

A lot has modified for Betts since getting dealt by Boston in February 2020. Regardless that his sterling play on the sector hasn’t wavered (his 6.9 WAR leads all Nationwide League gamers this season), his mindset and method off the sector is way totally different from his time with the Pink Sox.

Now donning Dodger blue, Betts has embraced his anointed standing as one of many faces of baseball. The assorted media assets obtainable in a market like L.A. has opened new avenues for Betts, who runs his personal manufacturing firm and podcast alongside different ventures.

Whereas Betts finds that each Boston and Los Angeles haven’t any scarcity of assist from their respective fan bases, the expectations discovered throughout his early days with the Pink Sox introduced out the most effective in Betts.

“I’d undoubtedly suggest it,” Betts stated of vouching for Boston as a vacation spot for gamers. “It’s an excellent dope place to play. I had the time of my life enjoying right here. I believe lots of people do. However I might inform them, ‘You go up there, you understand you bought to play effectively.’ There’s nothing else.

“You bought to go up there and you bought to play effectively, and I believe that’s why I did play effectively. As a result of I knew day-after-day I put the uniform on, you’ve acquired to play effectively, it doesn’t matter what. The media, the followers, the folks will let you understand.”

Betts stated the scrutiny, the occasional boos, and the entire different drama that comes with the territory in a spot like Boston by no means threw him off his recreation.

In an ideal state of affairs, Boston was a spot he felt he may have performed his total profession. 

“Yeah, I all the time thought that was gonna be the case. … However it didn’t occur and that’s OK,” Betts stated of remaining in Boston. “That’s a part of life. So it’s OK. It turned out to sort of be a blessing, and I’m tremendous glad.”

Regardless that Betts has said earlier than that he would have signed with the Pink Sox had they supplied the identical 12-year, $365 million mega-deal he ultimately inked with the Dodgers, he didn’t delve deeper into whether or not Boston put collectively a suggestion round $300 million.

“I’ll let Chaim and people guys clarify that,” Betts stated. “Or John Henry, whoever. I’ll allow them to clarify that. … In the event that they ever wish to clarify it, I’ll allow them to clarify it. We’re not even there, so it doesn’t even actually matter. We’re in LA. And so these issues, they’re up to now and I most likely simply have to go forward and go away it alone. But when somebody was to elucidate it, I might allow them to do it.”

Regardless that Betts has embraced this second stage of his profession with the Dodgers, he did acknowledge that he was fearful he’d be portrayed as a villain shortly after Boston traded him to Los Angeles going into the ultimate yr of his contract.

“At first. I’m not throwing anyone below the bus or something of that nature. However yeah, firstly — I didn’t need the followers to suppose … that I didn’t wish to be right here and that he wished to go away a pair years earlier than I truly acquired traded or no matter,” Betts stated. “I don’t know the place the narrative got here from or the way it took place, but when that’s what makes y’all sleep at evening, cool. That’s not even remotely near the place I used to be mentally. … Negotiations didn’t go the way in which we had deliberate and so that you simply sort of pivot.”

Betts nonetheless doesn’t know the way he’ll react when he ultimately steps as much as the plate on the prime of the primary inning on Friday. He plans to embrace the second, after which attempt to sneak in a pair rounds of candlepin bowling together with his family and friends if time permits over the weekend.

However after the pomp of that first-inning ovation wraps, Betts will probably be able to get to work.

“We’re right here to deal with enterprise,” Betts stated. “And that’s precisely the place my head is correct now.”