When the Los Angeles Dodgers completed a trade with the Boston Red Sox last January to acquire Mookie Betts and David Price it was clearly in effort to help the franchise end their championship drought.
There was some risk in deal, as Betts was entering the final year of his contract. Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said during an introductory press conference that he hoped the organization would make a lasting impact on Betts.
He wound up signing a record-setting 12-year contract extension prior to Opening Day, which had been delayed to July because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Betts then went on to play an integral role in the Dodgers winning their first World Series since 1988.
As Betts looks forward to receiving a second championship ring of his career, he has presented one to longtime girlfriend Brianna Hammonds as the couple is now engaged, via Lindsay Kimble of People:
“Brianna has been by my side since we were teenagers,” Betts tells PEOPLE. “Together we’ve grown mentally, physically, and spiritually. She is my best friend, mother of my child, my lover, and my soon-to-be wife. ”
Says Betts, “Winning another World Series was great, but putting a ring on my MVP is the real blessing! I am a blessed man.”
Betts, 28, and Hammonds, 26, have been together for 15 years and have a daughter together. The couple met while in middle school.
Hammonds and their daughter accompanied Betts when the Dodgers went into the postseason bubble in Texas, beginning with the National League Division Series. The family was among those who then celebrated the World Series win with the team on the field.
Betts joined Dustin May, Brusdar Graterol and Caleb Ferguson as Dodgers to get engaged this offseason. Corey and Madiysn Seager, Will and Cara Smith, and DJ and Shea Peters have each had their respective wedding since the World Series.
Betts volunteers to join LeBron
When L.A. Lakers superstar LeBron James recently posted on social media that he was considering headlining an ownership group that would purchase the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream, Betts enthusiastically said he would like to be involved.
Like James, Betts is charitable and heavily involved in the pursuit of social equality.
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