Mookie Betts wins Sports Illustrated Player of the Year award

Mookie Betts’ grand year continues to get greater, as he adds another award to his trophy case.

As soon as the clock hit midnight on Jan. 1, 2020, outfielder Mookie Betts was a member of the Boston Red Sox. That only lasted a month, as the team traded Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the rest was history. By October, Betts won the World Series for the second time in his career, and helping break a 32-year title drought for the Dodgers.

For his tremendous play in the truncated 2020 season, Betts was named Sports Illustrated’s Player of the Year during their awards ceremony on Saturday.

Betts’ year continues to get better

It was essentially a foregone conclusion that Betts would end up with the Dodgers at some point, considering the Red Sox were planning on cutting costs in 2020. But after a wrinkle in their initial trade offer, they got a deal done in February in their three-team trade including the Minnesota Twins. Prior to the regular-season starting in July, the Dodgers reached an agreement with Betts on a 12-year, $365 million contract extension, ensuring he wouldn’t hit the open market in 2021 and beyond.

Through 55 games this season, Betts slashed .292/.366/.562 while recording 16 home runs and 39 RBI. In addition to his batting, Betts recorded a .966 fielding percentage and just four errors. As a result, Betts won the NL Silver Slugger Award and a Gold Glove for his troubles, while finishing second behind Freddie Freeman of the Atlanta Braves for NL MVP.

In the postseason, Betts recorded a .296 batting average and .871 OPS along with two home runs, eight RBI and six stolen bases. That was why the Dodgers traded for him this year, and it resulted in them hoisting the Commissioner’s Trophy in Arlington, Tx.

2020 was the year of trophies for Mookie Betts, and we’re sure it won’t be the last while he wears a Dodgers uniform.