Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts will take part in his first Home Run Derby at the MLB All-Star Game week on July 10, the franchise confirmed on Friday.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays and Julio Rodriguez of the Seattle Mariners are the only other confirmed names set to participate in the eight-man slugging exhibition at T-Mobile Park in Seattle so far.
“You know, the wife. She said, ‘You got to do it,’” Betts said. per MLB.com. “The last thing I haven’t done, so I’m going to do it. Have fun with it, and we’ll see what happens.”
“I’m five-foot-nine, 170 pounds. I don’t think that many guys my size win the Home Run Derby. When I told my mom, she wasn’t too thrilled. She told me, ‘I didn’t raise you to come in last, so the goal now is to not come in last.’ … I don’t think she’s a huge fan of seeing her son lose.”
Betts was also named as one of the National League All-Star starters along with teammates Freddie Freeman and J.D. Martinez.
Since making his major league debut for the Boston Red Sox in 2014, Betts has been sent to the All-Star Game seven times.
In 2018, Betts became the first player to win the MVP, Silver Slugger, Gold Glove, batting title, and World Series in the same season.
Betts moved to the Dodgers in 2020 and made an immediate impact, leading the team to its first World Series title since 1988.
Betts leads the Dodgers with 20 home runs this season. He had a career-high 35 homers last year.