Los Angeles Dodgers star right fielder Mookie Betts knows how important it is for the athletes to have souvenirs that remind them of important milestones in their careers. This is why he went to great lengths to make sure Cincinnati Reds rookie TJ Friedl kept the ball he hit his first MLB home run with.

Friedl hit a homer after a pitch from Tony Gonsolin in the sixth inning and returned to the dugout. The ball was already caught by the fans, and he knew that the chances of getting it back were zero to none. However, Betts, who witnessed the homer and recognized its importance for Friedl, decided to do something about it.

Betts got the attention of the fan that caught the ball and asked him to return it. In exchange, he promised to give him another ball. The fan immediately obliged and threw the ball to Betts, who passed it to the Reds’ dugout.

“I just asked him for the ball. I just told him kind of [through] sign language,” Betts told reporters after the game. “I just 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.”

The fan that gave the ball back ended up getting something even better. Betts quickly returned to make good on his word and gave him a signed bat.

After getting his first home run ball, Friedl was emotional and full of praise for Betts.

“Thank you is all I can really say because it means so much,” said Friedl. “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.”

The game against the Dodgers was the second in the majors for TJ Friedl, with him being elevated to Cincinnati’s active roster the day before. The hit that resulted in a home run was also Friedl’s first in MLB in only his second at-bats appearance.

The post Mookie Betts Makes Sure Reds Rookie TJ Friedl Keeps First Home Run Ball appeared first on SportzBonanza.

It appears that All-Star right fielder Mookie Betts will commit his future to LA Dodgers without playing a single game with the franchise. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the two sides are close to finalizing a “massive deal” in the upcoming days.

NBC Sports’ Lou Merloni also reported that sources close to the situation told him Betts will sign on 10 or more years. The overall value of the deal is expected to be from $350 million to $400 million.

Mookie Betts previously rejected the $300 million offer from Boston Red Sox offered him early in the year, after which he was traded to Dodgers. The 27-year-old all-star initially intended to play out his deal in LA and hit the free agency next year, but it appears he changed his plans in the meantime.

If the reported numbers check out, the deal represents a big coup for Betts. It was previously projected that he’ll need to take a pay cut due to financial difficulties caused by coronavirus pandemic and that he might lose around $100 million.

Betts spent the previous six years of his MLB career in Boston. He won a World Series with Red Sox in 2018, while winning the AL MVP Award in the same year.

Betts, who is four-time All-Star, has a .301 career batting average alongside 139 home runs, 470 RBIs, and 126 stolen bases.

The post Mookie Betts Close to Massive Extension Deal with Dodgers appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts isn’t afraid to admit that he is still unsure whether or not the 2020 MLB season will actually take place in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Betts, who was traded to the Dodgers as part of a mega-deal with the Boston Red Sox last offseason, stated in a press conference with team reporters via a video call that he isn’t completely convinced that the 2020 season will actually take place.

The past few days have seen baseball stars such as Braves 1B Freddie Freeman and Rangers OF Joey Gallo test positive for the virus as well as players like the Braves’ Nick Markakis and the Dodgers’ David Price say that they will skip the season due to health concerns.

Betts said in the press conference that he is not completely convinced that the league’s safety protocol will be successful and that all players will be able to attain to it.

The Dodgers outfielder, the 2018 AL MVP, and a four-time All-Star is set to play one season in Los Angeles before hitting the free-agent market next offseason.

It seems as if he still has significant doubts, however, as to whether or not he will actually suit up in Dodger blue.

The post Dodgers OF Mookie Betts “Has Doubts” About MLB Season Taking Place appeared first on SportzBonanza.

One of baseball’s scariest teams got even better on Tuesday after agreeing to a deal that will bring two of the biggest names in baseball to Tinseltown.

The Los Angeles Dodgers found a way to work out a deal to acquire superstar outfielder Mookie Betts, along with starting pitcher David Price, from the Boston Red Sox in a trade that will significantly alter the baseball landscape.

The Dodgers will also receive cash as part of the deal to offset Betts’ and Price’s significant salaries.

In exchange, the Red Sox will reportedly receive outfielder Alex Verdugo, a well-regarded young player who hit .294 for Los Angeles last season.

The Red Sox wanted to move on from Betts, who is set to become a free agent after this season, and Price, whose high salary hasn’t quite matched up to his performance on the mound in recent years.

The Dodgers will almost certainly look to sign Betts to a long-term extension after acquiring him in the deal. The young outfielder was the 2018 AL MVP and is also a 4-time All Star.

Price will almost certainly step into the Dodgers’ pitching rotation, looking to improve from a mediocre 2019 season which saw him post a 4.28 ERA.

For the Red Sox, this deal is all about clearing out salary for the future, while the Dodgers will look to compete for a World Series title with their shiny new acquisitions.

The post Dodgers Acquire Mookie Betts, David Price in Blockbuster Trade With Red Sox appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Los Angeles Dodgers star right fielder Mookie Betts knows how important it is for the athletes to have souvenirs that remind them of important milestones in their careers. This is why he went to great lengths to make sure Cincinnati Reds rookie TJ Friedl kept the ball he hit his first MLB home run with.

Friedl hit a homer after a pitch from Tony Gonsolin in the sixth inning and returned to the dugout. The ball was already caught by the fans, and he knew that the chances of getting it back were zero to none. However, Betts, who witnessed the homer and recognized its importance for Friedl, decided to do something about it.

Betts got the attention of the fan that caught the ball and asked him to return it. In exchange, he promised to give him another ball. The fan immediately obliged and threw the ball to Betts, who passed it to the Reds’ dugout.

“I just asked him for the ball. I just told him kind of [through] sign language,” Betts told reporters after the game. “I just 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.”

The fan that gave the ball back ended up getting something even better. Betts quickly returned to make good on his word and gave him a signed bat.

After getting his first home run ball, Friedl was emotional and full of praise for Betts.

“Thank you is all I can really say because it means so much,” said Friedl. “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.”

The game against the Dodgers was the second in the majors for TJ Friedl, with him being elevated to Cincinnati’s active roster the day before. The hit that resulted in a home run was also Friedl’s first in MLB in only his second at-bats appearance.

The post Mookie Betts Makes Sure Reds Rookie TJ Friedl Keeps First Home Run Ball appeared first on SportzBonanza.

It appears that All-Star right fielder Mookie Betts will commit his future to LA Dodgers without playing a single game with the franchise. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the two sides are close to finalizing a “massive deal” in the upcoming days.

NBC Sports’ Lou Merloni also reported that sources close to the situation told him Betts will sign on 10 or more years. The overall value of the deal is expected to be from $350 million to $400 million.

Mookie Betts previously rejected the $300 million offer from Boston Red Sox offered him early in the year, after which he was traded to Dodgers. The 27-year-old all-star initially intended to play out his deal in LA and hit the free agency next year, but it appears he changed his plans in the meantime.

If the reported numbers check out, the deal represents a big coup for Betts. It was previously projected that he’ll need to take a pay cut due to financial difficulties caused by coronavirus pandemic and that he might lose around $100 million.

Betts spent the previous six years of his MLB career in Boston. He won a World Series with Red Sox in 2018, while winning the AL MVP Award in the same year.

Betts, who is four-time All-Star, has a .301 career batting average alongside 139 home runs, 470 RBIs, and 126 stolen bases.

The post Mookie Betts Close to Massive Extension Deal with Dodgers appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts isn’t afraid to admit that he is still unsure whether or not the 2020 MLB season will actually take place in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Betts, who was traded to the Dodgers as part of a mega-deal with the Boston Red Sox last offseason, stated in a press conference with team reporters via a video call that he isn’t completely convinced that the 2020 season will actually take place.

The past few days have seen baseball stars such as Braves 1B Freddie Freeman and Rangers OF Joey Gallo test positive for the virus as well as players like the Braves’ Nick Markakis and the Dodgers’ David Price say that they will skip the season due to health concerns.

Betts said in the press conference that he is not completely convinced that the league’s safety protocol will be successful and that all players will be able to attain to it.

The Dodgers outfielder, the 2018 AL MVP, and a four-time All-Star is set to play one season in Los Angeles before hitting the free-agent market next offseason.

It seems as if he still has significant doubts, however, as to whether or not he will actually suit up in Dodger blue.

The post Dodgers OF Mookie Betts “Has Doubts” About MLB Season Taking Place appeared first on SportzBonanza.

One of baseball’s scariest teams got even better on Tuesday after agreeing to a deal that will bring two of the biggest names in baseball to Tinseltown.

The Los Angeles Dodgers found a way to work out a deal to acquire superstar outfielder Mookie Betts, along with starting pitcher David Price, from the Boston Red Sox in a trade that will significantly alter the baseball landscape.

The Dodgers will also receive cash as part of the deal to offset Betts’ and Price’s significant salaries.

In exchange, the Red Sox will reportedly receive outfielder Alex Verdugo, a well-regarded young player who hit .294 for Los Angeles last season.

The Red Sox wanted to move on from Betts, who is set to become a free agent after this season, and Price, whose high salary hasn’t quite matched up to his performance on the mound in recent years.

The Dodgers will almost certainly look to sign Betts to a long-term extension after acquiring him in the deal. The young outfielder was the 2018 AL MVP and is also a 4-time All Star.

Price will almost certainly step into the Dodgers’ pitching rotation, looking to improve from a mediocre 2019 season which saw him post a 4.28 ERA.

For the Red Sox, this deal is all about clearing out salary for the future, while the Dodgers will look to compete for a World Series title with their shiny new acquisitions.

The post Dodgers Acquire Mookie Betts, David Price in Blockbuster Trade With Red Sox appeared first on SportzBonanza.