Mookie Betts reminded everyone Friday night why he’s one of baseball’s elite talents, delivering two clutch home runs to power the Dodgers past the Tigers 8-5 despite recently battling a severe illness.
Betts, who dropped 20 pounds and couldn’t eat solid food during a two-week absence, first connected on a go-ahead solo shot in the eighth inning. Then after Detroit tied the game in the ninth, he delivered a walk-off three-run blast in the 10th to send the Dodger Stadium crowd into a frenzy.
“That was super special,” Betts told reporters after the game. “I know it sounds super selfish, but more for me. I was really proud of myself for coming in and playing underweight. Not that it’s a big deal playing underweight, but just the fight that I’ve kind of been through — the ups and downs, and the nights I’m just crying because I’m sick, and my wife’s there holding me. That’s where the emotion comes from.”
The performance made MLB history. It’s the first time a player has hit a go-ahead homer in the eighth inning or later, then a walk-off home run later in the same game, for his first two homers of the season, according to Opta Stats.
What made the night even more special? The Dodgers received their World Series rings in a pre-game ceremony, making Betts’ heroics the perfect cap to a celebratory evening.
MOOKIE BETTS WALK-OFF HOME RUN ON RING NIGHT! pic.twitter.com/e350c0yZa8
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) March 29, 2025
The historical significance goes beyond just this season. Betts became only the second Dodgers player in the last 67 years to hit two go-ahead homers this late in a game, joining Andre Ethier who accomplished the feat in 2015.
“Just given what he’s been under the last couple weeks, and still to go out there and be ready, and not be 100 percent, and still give us everything he has, coming up huge — I can’t say enough about Mookie,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
Still Recovering
Despite his heroics, Betts isn’t fully back to his normal playing weight. He’s regained eight pounds since the peak of his illness but wants to add eight more.
“I didn’t lose much strength, relative for my weight,” Betts said. “I’m still pretty strong. But obviously as you add on more weight you can add on more strength. Right now I’m just having fun hitting 160-pound homers.”
The Dodgers have to be thrilled to have their star back in the lineup. If he’s hitting clutch homers while still recovering, imagine what’s possible once he’s back to full strength.
