HOUSTON — Mookie Betts will return to Fenway Park on Friday for the first time since the Red Sox traded him to the Dodgers on Feb. 10, 2020. Betts has been the Dodgers’ leadoff hitter in all 117 games he has started this season. So expect him to step to the plate right at first pitch, which is scheduled for 7:10 p.m.
“It should be a standing ovation,” manager Alex Cora said. “I’m obviously not going to tell the fans to get there by first pitch but they should, to be honest with you. Because it’s going to be a special moment. This is a special kid that did a lot of great things for the organization not only on the field but off the field, too. He’s an impactful player. It just so happens he’s playing for the Dodgers now. But I think for the game, he’s becoming one of those guys that he’s the face of the game.”
Cora is glad to see Betts showing off his personality but he also plans to tease him for it this weekend.
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“Now he’s doing podcasts and all that stuff, wearing glasses and acting like he’s a tough customer,” Cora said. “I’ll talk to him tomorrow about that. Yeah, I saw the one (video) with Kiké (Hernández) yesterday. I mean come on. Save it. Let’s go. He’s hearing about it. But all joking aside, he’s great. And he’s in a good spot. His family is enjoying everything they’re doing on the West Coast.”
The 30-year-old Betts is batting .308 with a .402 on-base percentage, .604 slugging percentage, 1.006 OPS, 34 homers, 34 doubles, one triple, 88 RBIs and 104 runs in 119 games for Los Angeles this season. He’s second in the majors in WAR (6.7), per Fangraphs.com.
Cora said he has heard people calling this Betts’ best season yet. But the Red Sox manager disagrees.
“Nah. This year is not even close (to ‘18),” Cora said. “.330 with a 1.000 OPS, stealing bases, playing defense, setting the tempo for the best team in baseball.”
Betts won the 2018 AL MVP when he batted .346 with a .438 on-base percentage, .640 slugging percentage, 1.078 OPS, 32 homers, 47 doubles, five triples, 80 RBIs and 129 runs in 136 games. He led the league in on-base percentage, slugging percentage and runs.
