Betts serves as World Series correspondent for Game 3

PHOENIX -- No stranger to the Fall Classic, Mookie Betts is putting in work at the 2023 World Series.

The Dodgers star and two-time World Series champ held the special role as a correspondent for Game 3, taking over Major League Baseball’s platforms and social media with behind-the-scenes access and content on Monday. This was the latest media venture for Betts, who is an executive producer with his media company, One Marketing Group (OMG), launched his own YouTube channel and hosts the podcast “On Base with Mookie Betts” with Bleacher Report.

“I thought it was going to be really cool, really neat,” Betts, 31, said. “I’ve said it a couple of times, my wife, she mentioned that I was gonna hit a mid-life crisis when I’m done playing. We're not there yet, but I don't want to get there. That's kind of where this all kind of comes from, just trying to try things out, figure out what I want to do in the next chapter in life.”

Betts stood behind the batting cage at Chase Field as the D-backs got in early swings, his Dodgers uniform swapped for a blue short-sleeve button down shirt and dark pants. Players from Arizona welcomed him at the cage while former players, including CC Sabathia and Shane Victorino, approached him for hellos and a group photo.

Just as many were excited to see Betts, he was looking forward to watching the matchup between the D-backs and Rangers. He has close ties with both teams from his 10-year career on the Red Sox and Dodgers.

“I’ve played against [the D-backs] for the last four years,” Betts said. “I’ve seen all these guys and I have relationships with all these guys. It’s really good seeing these guys. Then, on Texas, I was in Boston all the way from 2014 [to] ‘20, so a lot of those guys I grew up playing with and against. It’s really like I know near everybody out there or have some type of personal relationship with pretty much everybody out there. It’s really cool to see everybody doing what makes them good.”

Beyond the field, Betts has a special relationship with D-backs manager Torey Lovullo, too. Lovullo was on the Red Sox staff from 2013-16 (including interim manager in ‘15) during the early years of Betts’ Major League career.

“For him to be successful, it’s super neat, super cool,” Betts said. “But I kind of expected it just because I know him. I know what he’s about. I know how he manages, how he moves around, how he treats guys. Him being successful is not a surprise to me, and I’ll always and forever wish him nothing but the best of luck.”

Betts won his first World Series in 2018 with Boston and his second in 2020 with Los Angeles. His favorite memories from the Fall Classic include an 18-inning battle in Game 3 of the 2018 World Series -- the longest game played in World Series history -- and capturing the title in the COVID bubble with the Dodgers.

Only 25 years old when he became a World Series champion, Betts appreciates what goes into going all the way, especially for young players making their debut appearance on the game’s biggest stage.

“It is the same game of baseball, but there is a little more added pressure to it,” Betts said. “The ‘tomorrows’ are very short now. A hundred-and-sixty-two [games], there's a lot of ‘tomorrows.’ But you’ve got seven games here, and so there's not that many ‘tomorrows.’ So still play the same game, but just play with a little urgency. Embrace the nervousness or anxiousness. Let it come, let it go. If it wants to come and stay for a couple of innings, that's fine. The more you fight it, it’s going to be the fifth inning and you’re still nervous.

“But just play, man. There's no shortcut to being successful. There's no shortcut to winning the World Series. Whatever path you're on -- and it's hard -- you’re probably on the right path.”

Spoken like a player fit for his special Game 3 job.