Mookie Betts Returns To Dodgers For Red Sox Series

The highly anticipated weekend series between the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers was missing a very familiar face when it got underway on Friday with Mookie Betts absent for personal reasons.

The beloved former Red Sox right-fielder spent six seasons in Boston and was named American League MVP during a 2018 season that resulted in the Red Sox’s latest World Series victory.

Traded to the Dodgers in 2020, Betts is having a down season at the plate this year, but the 32-year-old seven-time All-Star’s return visit to Fenway Park seemed to be in jeopardy before arriving at the Dodgers’ dugout in the middle of the game on Saturday.

With the Red Sox leading 4-2 in the ninth inning, Dodgers’ manager and former Red Sox outfielder sent Betts to the plate to pitch hit for Hyeseong Kim with two outs and Boston closer Aroldis Chapman on the mound. Representing the tying run with a runner on first base, Betts watched a 97.7 mph fastball hit the middle of the zone for strike three to seal a Red Sox victory.

Expected to start at shortstop in Sunday’s series finale, Betts has largely underperformed this season with the Dodgers and is hitting .237 with 11 home runs and 45 RBIs in 371 at-bats. While many cite a full-time move to shortstop as a possible cause of Betts’ offense regression this year, a stomach bug acquired in March reportedly caused him to lose an estimated 20 pounds while also sidelining him during the first few weeks of the 2025 season.