SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – MAY 15: Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers walks into the dugout for their game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on May 15, 2024 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
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The Los Angeles Dodgers remain near the top of the National League standings and seem all but certain to compete for a third straight World Series championship.
But if there is one thing that could derail those hopes, perhaps it is the inevitable march of time taking its toll on the team’s biggest stars.
Los Angeles Dodgers Superstar Mookie Betts Stuck In Prolonged Struggles
As veterans like Freddie Freeman and Miguel Rojas look to enjoy a few more clutch playoff performances before their careers are over, the Dodgers’ 33-year-old superstar Mookie Betts has been struggling to maintain his typical production from the plate.
“Betts is 33 and has had to change much of the routine that served as the foundation to his immensely successful career,” Katie Woo noted for The Athletic. “His trial and error certainly show up in the stat line… But he does have to put up better numbers than what he has currently.”
In a season that has included a significant stay on the injured list already, Betts is slashing just .190/.259/.365. He struggled at the plate last year as well. And as he has searched for answers, the Dodgers’ star has evidently reached out to a crosstown rival for some advice.
Los Angeles Angels Superstar Mike Trout Offers Response On Los Angeles Dodgers’ Star Mookie Betts
“Playing against Mookie all these years has been unbelievable,” Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout told AM 570 Sports’ David Vassegh in a recent interview. “He’s grinding right now, but you don’t see him taking any days off, he’s out there working hard every day. He knows what he’s capable of doing. Everybody goes through it. It’s a mental grind, he’s got to stay positive and push forward.”
Trout added that Betts reached out to him during his recent skid in search of any tips. And the Angels superstar said that he could relate to the Dodgers’ veteran during his slump.
“Baseball’s a tough game,” Trout added in the interview with Vassegh. “It will drive you crazy sometimes. It’s usually one little thought or one little tip gets you going again. Some of the stuff he feels is similar to what I was feeling, I feel when I’m not right.”
The two players became personal friends while playing for Team USA during a World Baseball Classic tournament. And they have spent more than a decade carrying enormous expectations while consistently producing at an MVP level. When either player experiences even a modest decline, it becomes a national talking point.
For the Dodgers, the encouraging part is that there appears to be little concern about Betts’ work ethic or preparation. The challenge is simply helping one of baseball’s most accomplished hitters rediscover the consistency that has defined his career.