LOS ANGELES — For as a lot work as he places in on the sector, Mookie Betts works simply as tirelessly to make an affect off it.
The Dodgers’ shortstop was named the 2025 winner of the Roberto Clemente Award, which he was introduced with on MLB Community forward of World Collection Sport 3 on Monday at Dodger Stadium. Thought-about one of many highest particular person honors in baseball, the Clemente Award yearly acknowledges a Main Leaguer who finest represents the values of the late, nice Corridor of Famer Roberto Clemente.
Betts was acknowledged for his extraordinary character, group involvement, philanthropy and optimistic contributions by means of his work along with his 5050 Basis. He’s the primary Dodger to win the leaguewide award since Justin Turner in 2022; Clayton Kershaw additionally acquired the glory in ’12.
“It simply means the world,” Betts mentioned when he was nominated in September. “This is not one thing that you simply get judged on primarily based in your efficiency. It is one thing that you simply simply do out of the kindness of your coronary heart. Simply caring about folks, man.
“It is simply alternatives to do one thing that do not have something to do with expertise. These are issues that I genuinely care about, and I really feel like this reward reveals that.”
Betts based the 5050 Basis alongside his spouse, Brianna, in 2021. The group’s mission is to assist the youth of their communities — Los Angeles and Nashville, Tenn. — develop sources for fulfillment, primarily based round 4 pillars: bodily health, psychological and emotional well being, vitamin and monetary literacy.
This yr, the 5050 Basis was a part of the wildfire reduction effort within the L.A. space, donating greater than $30,000 of Nike clothes to victims. The 5050 Basis additionally partnered with the Dodgers Basis to donate greater than $160,000 to Brotherhood Campaign, which works to assist battle starvation and homelessness in L.A. In June, the inspiration offered monetary assist and sources to an Altadena household who misplaced their house within the Eaton Hearth.
Betts and the 5050 Basis continued working with colleges, partnering with the Obama Basis to donate sports activities tools to Hyde Park Academy in Chicago and establishing an instructional problem with L.A. Unified College District. They’ve continued to work with UCLA Kids’s Hospital, the place their “Betts on Us” fund helps households with pediatric sufferers entry high quality healthcare.
In Nashville, Betts funded the Mookie Betts Metro Baseball Match. He additionally continued his work with “Workforce Mookie,” an Newbie Athletic Union boys’ basketball staff, and has now helped fund six AAU groups within the Nashville area.
Betts can also be an everyday participant within the Dodgers’ group initiatives. He invited the Baseball Generations group to the ballpark for Juneteenth academic programming and a recreation. Across the similar time, Betts hosted an inaugural movie star softball recreation forward of Black Heritage Night time as a part of an effort to develop the sport with Black gamers and followers.
