When Mookie Betts speaks, young athletes would be wise to listen. The Dodgers shortstop, alongside former teammate Justin Dean, recently joined a livestream with internet personality Adin Ross and used the platform to deliver a message that went beyond box scores and highlight reels. It was a conversation rooted in experience - one that pulled back the curtain on the mental grind behind the game.
Betts, now a four-time World Series champion and eight-time All-Star, didn’t always have a clear path to baseball greatness. In fact, if not for his mom stepping in to create a team just so he could play, there’s a real chance he might never have picked up a bat.
Even after committing to the sport, there was a moment in the minors when he nearly walked away to chase a basketball career. That’s how close it came to going another direction.
But Betts stuck with it. And now, with a résumé that’s already Hall of Fame-bound, he’s using his platform to share the hard-earned wisdom that came from those early struggles.
“Enjoy the process of everything,” Betts said during the stream. “You get lost in results, you wanna do well, everyone wants to do well.
But if you don’t enjoy the process of getting there, then you probably won’t get there. … You’ve got to accept the good, but you’ve also got to accept the bad.”
That’s not just advice - that’s the mindset of a champion. For Betts, the journey has always been as important as the destination.
It’s a reminder that success in baseball, like life, isn’t just about the final stat line. It’s about showing up, grinding through the slumps, and learning to love the work even when the results aren’t there.
Justin Dean, who spent seven years grinding through the minor leagues before finally making his big-league debut with the Dodgers in 2025, echoed that sentiment. Dean’s journey wasn’t glamorous.
It was the kind of story that plays out far from the spotlight - long bus rides, small crowds, and a constant battle to prove he belonged. But it paid off.
He stuck with it, broke through, and played a role in the Dodgers’ latest World Series run.
“I’d probably double down on that,” Dean said, backing Betts’ message. “From personal experience, I tried to force results, or I’d get hung up on results and I would take everything personally and let it affect my mood or how I wanted to work.”
That kind of honesty hits home for anyone who’s been through the ups and downs of competitive sports. Dean’s words are a reminder that the mental game matters just as much as the physical one - maybe even more.
While Dean has since moved on - claimed off waivers by the San Francisco Giants earlier this offseason - his mindset hasn’t changed. He’s still chasing success, just in a new uniform now. And make no mistake, he’ll be looking to make an impact in 2026, even if it means going through his former team to do it.
As for Betts, the mission remains the same: keep winning. With four rings already in the trophy case and back-to-back titles under his belt, he’s now eyeing a fifth championship - and what would be his third in as many years. For a player who once considered walking away from the game, that’s some serious full-circle stuff.
But if there’s one thing Betts made clear, it’s that the rings, accolades, and All-Star nods are just part of the story. The real victory? Learning to love the grind that got him there.