World Series champion Mookie Betts says athletes shouldn't be seen as political figures: 'We go out and play'

Los Angeles Dodgers prima Mookie Betts conscionable wants to beryllium a shot player, not a governmental fig oregon a governmental conveyance for radical to propulsion their agendas.

Betts, 33, visited the White House aft the Dodgers won the World Series successful 2024, but volition not beryllium going this year. The four-time World Series champion said helium conscionable had a babe and wanted to walk clip with his family, and insisted the determination was not politically motivated.

The American League MVP victor questioned wherefore athletes are viewed arsenic governmental figures successful today’s time and age.

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Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts looks connected successful the archetypal inning against the San Diego Padres astatine Dodger Stadium successful Los Angeles, Calif. (Kiyoshi Mio/Imagn Images)

"I don't cognize wherefore the satellite sees athletes arsenic these governmental figures oregon these radical that tin marque alteration oregon these radical that tin bash this, that, and the other. We spell retired and play our sport," Betts told Fox News Digital successful a caller interview.

"I'm definite determination are immoderate guys successful determination that that emotion authorities and privation to beryllium successful it, but I'm not definite wherefore the satellite sees america that way. But it benignant of is what it is."

The eight-time All-Star said athletes are successful a pugnacious presumption erstwhile it comes to visiting the White House due to the fact that idiosyncratic is guaranteed to beryllium upset with the decision.

"Athletes, we’re successful positions where, you know, particularly myself, wherever I'm benignant of damned if I bash oregon damned if I don't," Betts told Fox News Digital successful an interrogation connected behalf of LGND, his mitt company.

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President Donald Trump and Mookie Betts shingle hands successful the East Room of the White House successful Washington, D.C., connected Monday, April 7, 2025. Trump is hosting the Los Angeles Dodgers to observe their 2024 World Series victory. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Knowing that backlash volition travel careless of his decision, Betts decided to bash what was champion for him and his family.

"So alternatively of trying to marque different radical happy, it's fto maine conscionable marque myself happy, you know, marque myself blessed and get to walk immoderate clip with my family. Like I said, I got a caller baby, truthful get to walk immoderate clip with her," Betts continued.

"I don't truly interest astir it excessively much. Like I said, my stance is truly that if I'm going to marque everybody mad, marque idiosyncratic mad, past astatine slightest I'm gonna marque myself happy. So, that's wherever I'm at."

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Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts is greeted by archetypal basal manager Chris Woodward aft hitting an RBI azygous during the sixth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks astatine Dodger Stadium successful Los Angeles, Calif. (William Liang/Imagn Images)

Betts is successful the 13th play of his illustrious vocation but has struggled this twelvemonth compared with erstwhile seasons. The Nashville autochthonal is simply a vocation .288 hitter with 302 location runs and 944 RBIs, but is hitting conscionable .235 with 11 location runs and 31 RBIs this season.

The six-time Gold Glove victor volition look to get backmost connected way successful the 2nd fractional and assistance pb the Dodgers to a 3rd consecutive World Series title.

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