Dodgers' Mookie Betts Joins Ken Griffey Jr. in Exclusive Club
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts has gotten off to a phenomenal start this season, and now he's crossed into historic territory.
With two hits, two runs, one home run and one RBI in Tuesday's 5-4 win over the San Francisco Giants, Betts became one of two players in major league history to record at least 14 runs and 11 RBIs in their team's first eight games of the regular season. The only other player to reach this feat: 13-time All-Star and Baseball Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr.
Betts has simply been undeniable for the Dodgers, and a primary reason the team has gotten off to a 6-2 start to the regular season.
Overall, Betts has hit .500 and has a .605 on-base percentage entering Wednesday's game against the Giants while collecting 15 hits, 14 runs, five home runs, 11 RBIs, and eight walks in 30 at-bats. After hitting the first home run of the season during the Dodgers' Seoul Series against the San Diego Padres, Betts has not stopped producing for the Boys in Blue.
Betts also made franchise history with teammate Teoscar Hernández already, becoming the first pair of Dodgers teammates to hit at least four home runs in the first seven games of the season.
The season is still young, but the seven-time MLB All-Star and six-time Silver Slugger Award winner appears to be on his way to one of his best seasons yet. Even while making the switch to shortstop late in Spring Training to take over for a struggling Gavin Lux, Betts remains motivated as ever.
With the Dodgers primary splash free agency signing Shohei Ohtani getting off to a slower start than expected, Betts' hot start has proven to be especially helpful.
