​  
Underappreciated?: Social media users react to Dodgers’ Mookie Betts belting 300th MLB home run originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
To most Los Angeles Dodgers’ fans, the 2024 arrival of two-way star Shohei Ohtani sparked Tinseltown’s latest version of “Showtime.”

But did it?
Like the NBA’s Lakers of the 1980s, the modern Dodgers possess a loaded, high-priced lineup that has already celebrated multiple league championships. Ohtani earned his endorsements over the back-to-back World Series title runs.
But don’t overlook Mookie Betts.
The two recent titles were the second time in his nine-year career he accomplished the feat, earning the 2019 Series with the Boston Red Sox and the ’20 Series during his first season with the Dodgers.
Not as beloved among many Dodgers fans as Ohtani, Betts continues to display future Hall of Fame talent.
Betts clubbed his 300th career home run during Wednesday’s 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. The second-inning solo blast opened the scoring.

Becoming the 169th player to reach the power milestone, Betts connected off Twins starter Joe Ryan, capping a seven-pitch at-bat. The historic homer to left-center field came off a 94-mph four-seam fastball.
Social media users displayed a lukewarm relationship with Betts, who remains in the midst of a 12-year, $365 million contract that extends deferred payments through 2044. He will be a free agent in ’33.
“Mookie just keeps making history,” GADRO wrote on X (Twitter).
“And like that, another ‘Mookie Bobble Doll Night’ is born,” PressHard sarcastically expressed.

Hampered by a right oblique strain in April, Betts rebounded from a slow start. Opening with a .181 batting average through his opening 35 games, the former AL MVP and seven-time Silver Slugger recipient enters the weekend batting .378 during his past 11 outings.
Off Thursday, the Dodgers (52-29) appear to be on cruise control in the NL West, pacing the second-place San Diego Padres by nine games. The rivals open a three-game series at Petco Park on Friday.
With Betts heating up, KeepingIT recognized what it may mean for a possible “3-Peat”: “Very good sign for the team — the offense operates best when Mookie is hitting.”
After becoming the 17th active player to hit 300 homers, Betts displayed his infield prowess Wednesday, throwing out Twins’ Ryan Kreidler with runners on second and third, protecting a one-run lead. His unselfish decision to move from right field helped round out the two-time championship roster.

“I don’t think I’ll ever appreciate what Mookie Betts is doing at shortstop enough,” Blake Harris championed.
Ohtani remains the face of the franchise, if not international baseball.
Meanwhile, Betts continues to produce for the injury-plagued Dodgers.
“300 bombs and counting. Mookie does it again for LA. Clutch, consistent, elite. Dodgers on the board thanks to him. Hall of Fame swing,” KICHUB summarized.
Showtime.

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch making MLB moves, not magic

White Sox top-rated catcher Kyle Teel returns, manager Will Venable ‘excited’

‘Plunking king:’ White Sox’s Sam Antonacci taking beating at plate

White Sox’s Colson Montgomery creating MLB home run history

      ​Read More