Sources from the Los Angeles Dodgers just confirmed that their star player Mookie Betts, will no longer play the outfielder position in 2024 and will switch to playing second base as the team tries to find space to get new talents on their team.
Let’s take this moment to cover Mookie Betts’ biography and all the other relevant details about his personal and early life.
Contents
Dossier
Full Name | Markus Lynn Betts |
Nick Name | Mookie |
Age | 31 years |
DOB | October 7, 1992 |
Height | 1.75 m (5 feet 9 inches) |
Weight | 180 pounds (82 kg) |
Hair Color | Dark Brown |
Eye Color | Dark Brown |
Nationality | American |
Ethnicity | African-American |
Hometown | Nashville, Tennessee |
Parents | Diana Collins and Willie Betts |
Spouse | Brianna Hammonds |
High School | John Overton High School |
MLB Draft Year | 2011 MLB Draft |
MLB Current Team | Los Angeles Dodgers |
MLB Jersey Number | 50 |
Team Position | Right fielder and Shortstop |
MLB Contract | 12 yr(s) / $365,000,000 |
Net Worth | $70 Million |
Mookie Betts’ Early Life
Born on October 7, 1992, in Nashville, Tennessee, to Diana Collins and Willie Betts, Mookie Betts always had an inclination towards sports and participated in multiple games during his childhood and teenage years
His parents got divorced when he was in elementary school but still played a vital role in his upbringing. Diana Collins is a former softball player and bowler, who was also his coach during his formidable years and named her son Markus Lynn Betts so that his initials would match those of MLB. Mookie’s dad, Willie Betts, is a mechanical superintendent in railroads and manages over 300 miles of railway lines.
Both of his estranged parents are huge fans and admirers of the retired NBA star Mookie Blaylock, and attributed him for their child’s renowned nickname.
Mookie Betts’ Love Life And Kids
Mookie Betts’ is married to his childhood sweetheart Brianna Hammonds. Brianna Hammonds is a former college athlete who played basketball growing up. They first met as teenagers in middle school, when Mokkie was more interested in video games and sports.
However, he summoned up the courage to ask her out and they began dating each other in high school. Mookie and Briannna tied the knot on December 1, 2021, in Palos Verdes, California. Today the couple has two children together: a daughter named Kynlee Ivory Betts, born in November 2018, and a son named Kaj Lynn Betts, born in April 2023.
Mookie Betts’ High School Career
Although Mookie was always of a short stature, what he had working for him was his ability to do whatever he wanted on the field, effortlessly. Here are his high school achievements:
-Standout high school basketball player.
-Named MVP in his senior and junior years.
-Excelled at bowling and won Tennessee Bowler of the Year with a score of 290.
-Batted .548 with 24 steals during his junior year.
-Signed a commitment letter to attend the University of Tennessee on a baseball scholarship.
Mookie Betts’ MLB Career
However he had to bail on his plans of going to college after he got drafted in MLB. Below is the snapshot of all his career milestones in a chronological manner:
2011: Drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 5th round of the MLB draft.
2014: Made his MLB debut with the Boston Red Sox.
2016: Selected as an All-Star for the first time, won the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards, and finished second in the AL MVP vote.
2017: Won the Gold Glove award.
2018: Led the MLB in runs, batting average, and slugging percentage; won the AL batting title, Gold Glove, and Silver Slugger awards; named AL MVP; and won the World Series with the Boston Red Sox.
2019: Traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
2020: Won the World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
2022: Won the Silver Slugger and Gold Glove awards.
Additionally, Mookie Betts has:
-Been a four-time All-Star.
-Won the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year award.
–Bowled perfect games on several occasions.
-Competed in the Professional Bowlers Association World Series of Bowling in 2015 and 2017.
-Signed a 12-year contract extension with the Los Angeles Dodgers worth $365 million in 2020.
Mookie Betts’ Contract Details And Net Worth
In the beginning of 2020 Mookie Betts inked a major extension with the Dodgers following his trade with the Red Sox. Mookie Betts’ current contract details are as follows:
Years: 12 (through 2032)
Total value: $365 million
Signing bonus: $65 million
Average per year: $30,416,667 (11th in MLB)
This was one of the most major and lucrative deals of his career and Mookie witnessed a surge in his net worth suddenly after. As of 2024 his net worth is estimated to be $70 million.
Mookie Betts’ Car Collection And Houses
According to reports, Mookie Betts has a very modest car collection which includes a Chevrolet Corvette Stingray priced at $60,000 and a BMW 7 series worth a cool $100k.As for his real estate portfolio, he owns two houses in Los Angeles. Let’s have a closer look:
Encino Mansion (First Purchase):
Location: Encino, Los Angeles
Purchase Price: Initially bought for $7.6 million in fall 2020 from UCLA Bruins head coach Chip Kelly.
Features: 9,267-square-foot mansion with nine bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, a swimming pool, spa, fire pit, outdoor kitchen, guesthouse, fitness center, basketball court, and two-car garages.
Encino Estate (Recent Purchase):
Location: Encino, Los Angeles
Purchase Price: Acquired for $15 million in 2023.
Features: A roughly 9,300 square foot estate with eight bedrooms, 10.5 bathrooms, a three-car garage, tennis court, swimming pool, outdoor spa, and a guard shack for a full-time armed bodyguard.
Conclusion
Will Mookie Betts be able to sustain his legend with the Los Angeles Dodgers, what about his goal of signing a new deal worth half a billion. Well I guess us fans will have to wait and find out as his career moves along. But if you know Mookie like we do, he shines like a rubby under pressure. We wish him and his family all the success in the world.