Nashville native and Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts returns to baseball’s biggest stage Friday night for his third World Series appearance, this time facing the New York Yankees.
However, before winning championships with the Boston Red Sox in 2018 and the Dodgers in 2020, Betts made his mark as a three-sport athlete at Nashville’s John Overton High School, excelling in baseball, basketball, and bowling. He graduated in 2011 and rescinded his commitment to the University of Tennessee after signing with the Red Sox. He made his MLB debut in 2014.
Since then, Betts has collected a string of accolades: He’s an eight-time All-Star, six-time Silver Slugger and Gold Glove winner, and the 2018 American League MVP. This year, he hit the first home run of the MLB season and finished regular season play with 19 homers. He also had the team’s second-highest batting average after Shohei Ohtani, all while missing 45 games due to a fractured left hand.
As Betts prepares for the World Series, there are a few more Nashville connections to know.
- Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler played for the Vanderbilt Commodores and was part of their 2014 College World Series win. The Dodgers selected him 24th overall in the 2015 MLB Draft.
- Yankees pitcher Jake Cousins and catcher Jose Trevino, along with Dodgers infielder Max Muncy, all had stints with the Nashville Sounds.
- Franklin native Casey Dykes is in his third season as a Yankees assistant hitting coach.
- Yankees outfielder Juan Soto secured the team’s World Series spot with a three-run homer in Game 5 against the Cleveland Guardians. So what’s his connection to Music City? Well, the trade that brought Soto from San Diego to New York was finalized in Nashville during the MLB’s winter meetings held at Gaylord Opryland last December. You’re welcome, Yankees fans.
The 2024 World Series will be broadcast on FOX — view the schedule.
