Mookie Betts will join teammates for Dodgers | College News

PHILADELPHIA — Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts introduced Friday he will accompany the workforce on its go to to the White House subsequent week, when President Trump will acknowledge the membership’s World Series title.

There had been uncertainty over Betts’ determination, given he declined to go to the White House with the Boston Red Sox in 2019 during Trump’s first time period. He went with the Dodgers in 2021 when President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris welcomed the membership after its 2020 championship.

When the Dodgers introduced this go to final month — they will go to the White House Monday earlier than their collection opener towards the Washington Nationals — Betts stated he was undecided about whether or not he would take part.

Talking with reporters Friday, Betts emphasised that his option to go was not political, however reasonably as a result of of his want to be there for the workforce.

“No matter what I say or what I do, people are gonna take it as political,” Betts stated. “But that’s definitely not what it is. This is about what the Dodgers were able to accomplish last year.”

Betts known as it a “regret” that he didn’t join the Red Sox for their 2019 White House go to, which additionally was skipped by Boston supervisor Alex Cora and pitcher David Price. Betts felt like his absence distracted from that workforce’s accomplishment and made the information cycle about him.

“This is not about me; I don’t want anything to be about me,” Betts stated. “This is about the Dodgers. Because these boys were there for me.”

Betts was referring to early final October when he began the National League Division Series 0 for 6, making him 0 for 20 within the playoffs courting to 2022.

Betts was visibly annoyed. He credited his teammates’ assist for aiding his eventual turnaround. The relaxation of the playoffs he hit .321 with 4 home runs and 16 RBIs to help the Dodgers to their eighth title, and second in his 5 years with the workforce.

“For me to be able to look in the mirror at night and to be happy with the person that I’m looking at, I need to be there with my boys to celebrate this accomplishment,” Betts stated. “All the fight, all everything we did last year, man, that was hard. I wouldn’t be able to look at myself in the mirror if I wasn’t there.”

While different Dodgers had been requested about whether or not they would go to the White House — together with Kiké Hernández and Shohei Ohtani, each of whom stated they deliberate to attend — Betts’ determination had been a larger query.

“It is what it is,” Betts stated of the eye round his selection. “It comes with the territory, being Black in America in a situation like this. It’s a tough spot to be in. No matter what I choose, somebody is gonna be pissed. Somebody is gonna have their own opinion. But again, this is not about me. This is not about politics. This is about the Dodgers. It’s about my loyalty to these boys, this clubhouse. And that’s all it is for me.”