Dodgers star Mookie Betts reveals death of family member after unexplained absence from the team
Betts was absent for the meeting against his former ballclub as LA manager Dave Roberts said beforehand that the player was dealing with personal issues.
And after fully returning to the lineup on Sunday (he also pinch-hit on Saturday), Betts explained to reporters that his stepfather, Willie, had passed away.
'My stepdad passed. So I needed to go home, be with my mom, somebody that's been there in my life from fourth grade until now,' he said. So, that was tough for me and the family, but I just needed to be there for my mom and my brothers and sisters.
'So, it's just a tough time, and there's no real way to really explain something like that outside of just being there and spending time with the family.'
After flying home to Tennessee to be with his family, Betts traveled on his own to Boston and entered the Dodgers' contest against the Red Sox on Saturday in the middle of the game as a pinch-hitter.
Roberts told reporters that Betts got his 'own plane' to make it back to Boston.
'For me, it just meant a lot that he found a way to get here and be available and take the at-bat late,' he said, via the AP.
Betts returned to his usual starting role on Sunday - the final game of the Dodgers-Red Sox series - and went 1-for-4 as his team lost 4-3.
It's been a difficult season for the eight-time All-Star as he's batting a career-low .237 at the plate.
The 32-year-old missed out on the All-Star Game for the first time since 2015 (excluding the Covid-affected 2020 season) and told reporters on Sunday that he would 'like to play better baseball.'
July has been a particularly difficult month for Betts as he's hit just .182, leading Roberts to bench him for a game earlier this month.
Betts will look to return to form when the Dodgers travel to the Reds on Monday.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
5 minutes ago
- The Independent
Judge dismisses NC State's 'Cardiac Pack' lawsuit for name, image, likeness compensation
A North Carolina judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the 1983 N.C. State men's basketball team, shutting down the national championship team's request for name, image and likeness compensation. The team was known as the 'Cardiac Pack' for a series of close, nail-biting victories, including a 54-52 win over Houston in the 1983 national championship game. Lorenzo Charles sealed the victory with a buzzer-beating dunk, and coach Jim Valvano rushed the court — a moment that encapsulated the thrill of March Madness and was used in promotions for years. The players filed a suit requesting a jury trial and 'reasonable compensation' in June. 'For more than 40 years, the NCAA and its co-conspirators have systematically and intentionally misappropriated the Cardiac Pack's publicity rights — including their names, images, and likenesses — associated with that game and that play, reaping scores of millions of dollars from the Cardiac Pack's legendary victory,' the lawsuit said. According to WRAL News, the NCAA requested the case be dismissed after a similar lawsuit filed by a former Kansas basketball player was dismissed in April. 'In this lawsuit, twelve former members of North Carolina State University's ("NC State") 1983 NCAA men's basketball championship team have sued the NCAA for using without permission their names, images, and likenesses contained in copyrighted game footage from that season,' Superior Court Judge Mark A. Davis wrote in a 44-page order released Thursday. 'Because their claims are untimely, barred by their failure to allege a violation of a legally enforceable right, and preempted by the federal Copyright Act, dismissal of this action in its entirety is appropriate.' The House vs. NCAA Settlement, approved in June, promises nearly $2.8 billion in back pay to athletes who competed from 2016 onward and lost NIL opportunities.
The Sun
5 minutes ago
- The Sun
Ronda Rousey's UFC return LEAKED with MMA legend already preparing for comeback against huge-name opponent
RONDA ROUSEY is reportedly planning a shock return to the octagon - nearly TEN YEARS after her last fight. The former dominant women's bantamweight champion walked away from the sport following her 48-second defeat to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207 in December 2016. 6 6 6 Rousey has well and truly distanced herself from the world of mixed martial arts since her unceremonious retirement. The 38-year-old mother-of-two recently set tongues wagging by sharing training footage on her social media channels. Rousey's accompanying caption for the video, which showed her honing her once Olympic-level judo, read: "Martial art nerd s**t. And former three-time UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen has claimed the Hall of Famer is preparing to return against the winner of the eagerly-anticipated women's 135lbs title fight between Nunes and current champion Kayla Harrison. He said on his YouTube channel:"Ronda Rousey, going to come back, and fight the winner of [Amanda Nunes vs. Kayla Harrison], as long as the winner is Kayla. 'Now this is a story, and let me tell you what part of this I can confirm. I can confirm the story came from Ronda. "In this space, it's always 'Ronda's camp, one of Ronda's people.' "I understand those things. But it was. 6 "The absolute inner circle of Ronda has let it be known that she will take on the winner of Amanda and Kayla, as long as it's Kayla. 'So in other words: 'I'll return to fight for the title, if Kayla needs an opponent'…[but] that's not how comebacks go.' Sonnen, however, has his doubts about Rousey returning, adding: "I don't believe it's going to happen. 'It is the rumour, though…if the word gets to Kayla that Ronda said that, that could have some hard feelings. "Those two know each other, those two worked out together, supposed to have some kind of a bond. "And when Kayla finds out, she's going to be half flattered and half p****d off. "Ronda versus Kayla, not only will not happen, Ronda Rousey competing at anything at 135 pounds, also not gonna happen.' Rousey, who entered the WWE less than two years after losing to Nunes, was the first female fighter signed to the UFC and a pioneer for women's MMA. I was forced to leave fighting when I was faster, stronger, more skilled and had a better understanding of the art than ever before." Ronda Rousey on why she retired from MMA 6 She was at one point a bigger star than Conor McGregor and the face of the promotion. She defended the 135lbs strap six times before suffering a stunning second-round KO loss to Holly Holm at UFC 193 in November 2015. Nunes would then usher her out the exit door in December 2016. Rousey has seldom spoken about her retirement from the sport. But she opened up on her decision to call it quits ahead of the release of her memoir, revealing that repeated concussions played a big role in her decision. She said: "I'd like people to understand my reasons and motivations behind things. "I was forced to leave fighting when I was faster, stronger, more skilled and had a better understanding of the art than ever before.
The Guardian
14 minutes ago
- The Guardian
‘Dream come true': Son Heung-min officially joins Los Angeles FC in MLS record deal
Son Heung-min has arrived at Los Angeles FC with great excitement and even greater ambitions for the next stage of his groundbreaking soccer career. 'I'm here to win, and I will perform,' Son said at a packed news conference. 'I will definitely show you something exciting ... are we calling it football or soccer? I will definitely show some exciting football, and we definitely will have success.' LAFC formally introduced their new forward Wednesday at BMO Stadium, where his likeness already looms over the main entrance gates and on video boards surrounding the stadium. The 33-year-old South Korean superstar is back on the Pacific Rim after a professional career spent in Europe, including the past decade at Tottenham. 'What can I say? Dream come true. LA, what a city,' said Son, who will wear No 7 in black and gold. Son joined Los Angeles FC for a record Major League Soccer transfer fee, ending his lengthy stint at the Premier League club. Financial details of the transfer were not disclosed by either club but the Athletic reported LAFC paid a fee in the region of $26.5m. Son had suitors from around the globe after he decided to leave Spurs, and he said the decision to join LAFC initially wasn't obvious. He came around to the idea of moving to MLS after conversations with LAFC general manager John Thorrington, who sold Son on the eight-year-old club's ambition to be an international brand and the most successful club in North America. 'If I'm honest, it was not my first choice,' Son said. 'But [from the] first call when I talked to John after the season finished, he just changed my mind. He changed my heart. He changed my brain. He showed me the destination where I should be. Right now, I'm here. I'm more than happy.' Son laughingly said he was also pitched aggressively by Hugo Lloris, his longtime teammate at Tottenham who is now LAFC's starting goalkeeper. Son is South Korea's most popular athlete, and he is widely considered to be the greatest Asian soccer player in history. He said he already feels at home in Los Angeles, which has the world's largest ethnic Korean population outside Korea and a robust base of soccer fans from all backgrounds who appreciate his accomplishments. Son's introductory news conference was attended by Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass, South Korea's consul general, several additional politicians, dozens of Korean journalists and dozens of drum-beating, singing fans from the LAFC supporters' group famous for its relentless, raucous noise during matches. Son already got a taste of LAFC fans' passion Tuesday when he attended the club's Leagues Cup victory over Tigres. 'On behalf of millions of Angelenos and soccer fans around the world – Sonny, welcome to Los Angeles,' Bass said. 'This is a moment that will be remembered in the city for generations to come.' Son joins a lengthy list of soccer stars from European leagues who moved to Hollywood for a second act in their careers. Gareth Bale, Giorgio Chiellini and Olivier Giroud have all suited up for LAFC, while the crosstown rival LA Galaxy have welcomed even more European superstars, including David Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robbie Keane and Marco Reus. Son did not appear to be in decline during the past season as Tottenham's captain, and he said he is in good game shape after participating in Spurs' summer tour of Asia. He did not set a date for his LAFC debut, but it could be this month. 'I just felt like I need a new chapter, I need a new challenge, and I choose LAFC,' Son said. 'I think we can say I'm old, but I still have a good physicality, good legs, and still have a good quality. I'm here to perform, but also I want to give some advice to the young players for improvement. That's why we are here.'
