Mookie Betts has long been known as one of baseball’s most dynamic talents - a Gold Glove outfielder, a shortstop when needed, and a perennial offensive threat with a bat that doesn’t go quiet for long. But now, the Dodgers superstar is taking his versatility off the field and into the business world, stepping into a new role that blends his love of the game with a mission to make it more accessible to everyone.
Betts is joining Home Run Dugout, a baseball-themed entertainment company, as both an investor and a brand ambassador. He’ll also serve as chair of the company’s newly formed Athlete Advisory Board - a move that signals more than just a financial stake. It’s a hands-on commitment to growing the game in a way that’s fun, inclusive, and rooted in community.
If you’re unfamiliar with Home Run Dugout, think of it as part batting cage, part social hangout. The company’s flagship location in Houston features indoor Batting Bays powered by simulator technology that lets guests swing for the fences - literally.
It’s baseball, but with a twist: no cleats, no gloves, no pressure. Just the joy of swinging a bat, whether you’re a seasoned player or someone picking one up for the first time.
For Betts, this isn’t just about business - it’s personal.
“At my core, I’ve always believed baseball should be for everyone,” Betts said. “That’s what drives me with the 50/50 Foundation, giving every kid the same chance to fall in love with the game, no matter where they come from.
Home Run Dugout shares that same mission. They’re using incredibly unique technology and creativity to make baseball more fun, more social, and more accessible.”
That mission aligns perfectly with the way Betts has always approached the game - with energy, passion, and a deep respect for its roots. Whether he’s flashing the leather in right field or launching a leadoff homer, he’s always played with a sense of joy that’s contagious. Now, he’s channeling that same energy into helping others experience the game in new ways.
The move also speaks to Betts’ broader athletic identity. Baseball may be his profession, but it’s far from his only sport.
He’s bowled multiple perfect 300 games and was a standout basketball player in high school - good enough, in fact, that he once considered giving up baseball to pursue hoops at the college level. That kind of all-around athleticism is rare, and it’s part of what makes Betts such a compelling figure both on and off the field.
Home Run Dugout is already making waves in Texas, with its Houston location and licensed batting bays elsewhere in the state. But with Betts now on board, the company is eyeing expansion into new markets - including Atlanta, San Antonio, and places that hold personal significance for Betts: his hometown of Nashville, his MLB birthplace in Boston, and, of course, Los Angeles.
It’s a natural next step for a player who’s always thinking ahead, not just about his own career, but about the future of the sport itself. Betts isn’t just investing in a company - he’s investing in the idea that baseball can be more than nine innings between the lines. It can be a shared experience, a community builder, and a game that welcomes everyone.
And if Mookie Betts has anything to say about it, that future is already in the batter’s box, ready to swing.