
Mookie Betts’ gesture ‘world class’ in Dodgers versus Reds game
Mookie Betts’ gesture ‘world class’ in Dodgers versus Reds game
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SportsWriters
The Los Angeles Dodgers scored an 8-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday afternoon. With the win, the Dodgers won the three-game series 2-1.
But there was one special moment that everyone will remember from this game.
Reds rookie outfielder T.J. Friedl hit his first home run in the sixth inning, and the Dodgers’ Mookie Betts immediately went to the crowd and asked for the ball from the fan who caught it.
“I remember yesterday on the big screen it said it was his MLB debut,” Betts said. “He didn’t get a hit yesterday. Obviously he hit a home run and I knew it was his first hit. I saw the guy that caught it. I just asked him for the ball. Just kind of sign language. I just kind of said, ‘I’ll throw you another ball but that’s his first home run. Can you throw it back?’ He didn’t hesitate. He threw it right back.”
Betts knew the significance of these moments and recalled his memory of meeting NBA legend Kobe Bryant.
“Those type of interactions are kind of everlasting,” Betts said after the game. “I think one of the last times I talked to Kobe he just sort of reminded me that when the time comes and the game’s over, leave so that somebody knows who you are, somebody recognizes you. Obviously, that’s through our play. But that’s just another way to impact someone’s life.”
Friedl himself did not realize what happened until a Reds staff member told him.
“I came in that next half inning to the dugout,” Friedl said. “One of the clubhouse guys here told me, ‘Hey, we got the ball back in. You can thank Mookie. He saw the fan who caught it, turned around, and offered a bat for the ball.’ That’s when I turned around and saw Mookie running with a bat to the outfield and it was just chills, honestly.
“That’s just first class. It’s incredible,” Friedl said. “For him to do something like that, it’s definitely just world class out of him. I want to go over there and just say thank you in person. Thank you is all I can really say because it means so much. Just to get that ball back, for it to be my first home run, just for him to know that and turn around to the fan.”






Social comments
It should be noted that he bargained on behalf of a Reds rookie. Class act that Mookie Betts.
Betts is a class act. I miss him in Boston. He's one of the good ones.
As a rays fan I'm inclined to dislike Mookie Betts, but that's definitely a cool thing to do.
Doing the right thing paying off. Love to see it.
Gave me chills to read. Such a great guy and player. Miss you, Mookie!
Reds fan, I have come to bargain.