‘Let’s be real’: Why Mookie Betts doesn’t think he can win the Home Run Derby
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Alden Gonzalez, ESPN Staff Writer
Mookie Betts might be the smallest player ever to compete in the Home Run Derby.
He also might be the most apathetic.
Betts, the Los Angeles Dodgers star who heads into Monday’s eight-player, bracket-style tournament in Seattle as the No. 3 seed, doesn’t want to do the Derby. He isn’t shy about saying so, either. He’s taking part only because his wife, Brianna, thought it would look good on a résumé that includes an MVP Award, two World Series titles, five Silver Sluggers, six Gold Gloves and seven All-Star Game appearances.
“She was like, ‘You’ve done everything you’ve wanted in baseball,'” Betts recalled. “‘The only thing you’ve never done is the Derby.'”
The only problem: Betts says he doesn’t stand a chance.
“Let’s be real,” he said, “I’m not a power guy. Do I have some home runs? Sure.”
Mookie, he is told on the afternoon of Independence Day, you lead the Dodgers in home runs. You already have 23 [it’s actually 26 now]. You might have your fourth 30-homer season before the start of August.
“Yeah,” he said, “but they all go 382 feet.”
Baseball-Reference.com lists Betts at 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds. Based on the site’s unofficial measurements, nobody has ever competed in the Derby at 5-9 or shorter and 180 pounds or lighter. A couple of notable 5-9 players participated — Miguel Tejada, who won it in 2004, and Ivan Rodriguez, who reached the finals in 2005 — but they were heavier, stronger, able to generate power more efficiently and gifted with the freedom of mishitting balls that still carried.
Betts doesn’t have that luxury. His average home run distance this season, 397 feet, ranks 168th among 264 players. Five of his seven Derby competitors — Julio Rodriguez, Pete Alonso, Adley Rutschman, Luis Robert Jr. and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the latter of whom he’ll match up with in Round 1 — are at least five inches taller and 40 pounds heavier. Triggering bonus time by hitting two home runs at least 440 feet seems almost impossible, which means Betts will probably have to beat significantly larger men in a power competition with 30 fewer seconds at his disposal.
Betts — famous among teammates for harsh self-criticism, a trait some believe helped propel him to greatness — has frequently and openly lamented the circumstances in recent days. Fellow Dodger J.D. Martinez quickly grew tired of hearing it.
“You’ve got what they don’t have,” Martinez told him early last week.
“What?” Betts responded with a side-eye.
“Bat-to-ball.”
Martinez, who helped bring out some of Betts’ power when the two first teamed up in Boston, thinks the others will inevitably be hurt by attempts to pulverize pitches. He wants Betts to focus solely on catching baseballs with his barrel out front and barely lofting them over T-Mobile Park’s left-field fence, which sits 331 feet down the line but can stretch to 378 feet in the gap.
“‘Your adrenaline’s going to take over,'” Martinez said he told Betts. “‘All you got to do is play catch. Catch it, catch it, repeat, repeat, repeat. That’s all you got to do. Don’t try to hit the ball 700 feet because then you’re going to suck.'”
The last time Betts, 30, took part in a home run-hitting competition was more than two decades ago, at age 8. He was the smallest kid, but he made solid contact consistently enough to finish as the runner-up. Eleven years later, in 2012, he was 19 years old with the Boston Red Sox‘s short-season Class A Lowell Spinners, weighing 155 pounds with hardly any muscle, and didn’t homer in 251 at-bats. He recalled one-hopping the fence just once.
“One double,” Betts said. “I remember that.”
It prompted Betts to seek out former football player Deon Giddens and follow a strict weight-training regimen to help unlock the strength to drive pitches. Betts hit 15 home runs across both Class A levels the following summer and, after breaking into the majors in 2014, hit 31 homers at the highest level in 2016, finishing second in American League MVP voting. His numbers slipped the following year, his batting average dropping from .318 to .264. Then he got to know Martinez.
By the time Martinez joined the Red Sox in 2018, he had saved his career by adopting the launch-angle principles of Craig Wallenbrock and his protégé, current Dodgers hitting coach Robert Van Scoyoc. The Red Sox wanted to revamp their hitting philosophy, and they wanted Martinez to take Betts under his wing. Betts was open to feedback. Martinez wasn’t shy about giving it.
“I want to say it was the first, second day of spring [training],” Betts said. “J.D. got there, we talked, and one of the first things he said was, ‘Bro, you’ve got really good hands. But your swing is trash.'”
Betts had what Martinez described as a cross-body swing that finished low, forcing him to pound off-speed pitches into the ground rather than lifting them into the air. Martinez likened Betts finishing his backswing and gathering himself to someone galloping on a horse. He reminded him of it constantly and, alongside former Red Sox hitting coach Tim Hyers, incorporated drills that got Betts driving toward pitches, dropping his hands before contact and finishing high on his follow-through.
Betts went on to win the AL MVP Award in 2018, amassing 32 home runs while slashing .346/.438/.640. He established himself as the closest rival to Mike Trout as the game’s best player, boasting blazing speed, dynamic defense and elite bat-to-ball skills but also uncommon power.
Betts is now on pace to finish his age-30 season with more than 250 career home runs. Among players listed by Baseball-Reference at 5-9 or shorter and 180 pounds or lighter, only Mel Ott (369) had more by then. Jimmy Rollins (146), Hank Thompson (144) and Jose Altuve (133) are next on the list, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
“It’s physics,” Martinez said when asked to describe how Betts generates power. “If you look at his home runs, where does he hit them? Right over the fence, left field. He’s got great bat-to-ball, hits the ball on the barrel, swinging a 33-ounce bat at this amount of miles per hour, and he’s just catching it on the barrel. That’s it. Hard to do. Not everybody can do it. It’s the same reason Jose Altuve can do it. … I think Altuve’s got a little bit more juice than him, and he uses his legs and can go everywhere on the field. Mook can, too, but he’s got to hit it juuuust right.”
Clayton McCullough is committed to doing everything he can to help him. The Dodgers’ first-base coach will throw to Betts during the Home Run Derby, just as he has during batting practice every day this season — and he isn’t taking any chances.
Throwing in the Derby has been near the forefront of McCullough’s mind since June 30, when the Dodgers arrived in Kansas City for their third-to-last series of the first half and Betts asked him to throw. McCullough began to figure out precisely what distance he should pitch from (Major League Baseball allows some leeway, so he settled on 12 to 12½ paces from the front of the platform to the center of home plate) and talked to Betts about tempo and velocity. The following week, he brought out the official Derby platform (Dodger Stadium has one stored away from last year’s event) and had video coordinator Pedro Montero dress in catcher’s gear to practice throwing middle-in robotically.
Betts, however, didn’t plan on practicing. His swing is finally in what he considers to be a good place, as evidenced by his 1.121 OPS since the start of June, and so his batting-practice sessions have navigated a familiar path in recent days — spraying balls into the left- and right-center-field gaps and, as McCullough said, “controlling the trajectory.” He has no plans to change his swing for the Derby.
“Now,” Betts said, “if this was something that I felt like I could win, then yeah, of course I’d be practicing and all that stuff.”
So you really don’t think you can win, huh?
Betts looks at his right hand and starts pointing to each of his fingers.
“How am I going to beat Julio Rodriguez, Vladdy, Adl …”
You’re Mookie Betts.
“They’re home run hitters,” Betts said, his voice picking up. “They’re bigger guys.”
But you have more home runs than most of them.
“In the game,” he countered. “In the game. Now, you start flipping balls out there — you saw my BP!”
OK, do you have a strategy for preserving energy? Because clearly you’re going to have to exert more of it than others.
“See, now you see where I’m going with it. OK, first three minutes — think about how many homers I got to hit, ’cause I can’t hit the ball 450 feet.”
But the balls are juiced.
“I agree. But you’re telling me my best ball, in a game, with a 95 mile-an-hour fastball, went 420 [it was actually 426 feet]. Now you’re giving me 40 mph, and I’m supposed to hit it 30 feet further?”
All fair points. Betts stressed that he isn’t going to embarrass himself and that he’ll do his best to put on a good performance, but he is not convinced it’s going to matter. That’s what he says, at least. Those who know him well have heard this kind of talk from him before and are quick to note that Betts has always carried the right amount of self-doubt to continue evolving. It’s what made him someone worthy of competing in an event like this in the first place.
They think he might be sandbagging.
“That’s his way of lowering the expectations and being OK with it,” Martinez said. “But deep down inside, I know he wants to win.”
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Rachel Doerrie
The 2025 NHL draft is taking place on Friday (Round 1) and Saturday (Rounds 2-7) at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
This page will be your home for the entire event, as each pick is added below, including scouting notes and team fit analysis for the first-rounders.
More: Prospect rankings
Draft week buzz
Late-round gems
Needs for all 32 teams
Round 1
Team: Erie (OHL)
DOB: 09/05/2007 | Ht: 6-1.75 | Wt: 183 | Shot: L
2024-25 stats: GP: 17 | G: 7 | A: 15 | P: 22
Scouting notes: Schaefer is projected to become a true No. 1 cornerstone for years to come. A dynamic presence at both ends of the ice, he skates with ease and elite mobility to shut down opponents in all situations, while creating offense with quality transition play.
Executives and scouts view him as a future elite NHL defenseman and a foundational piece for a championship-caliber roster. Schaefer’s ability to control play from the blue line, play tough matchups, and run a power play — combined with the belief in his character and leadership — result in many believing that Schaefer has the tools to become a top-10 defender in the league, while wearing a letter as part of a team’s leadership group.
How he fits: After trading Noah Dobson earlier in the day, the Islanders drafted their franchise cornerstone defender. Schaefer does everything well, and is a dynamic skater with elite mobility. He will take on the toughest matchups, help the Islanders exit the zone with smooth passes and carry outs, and drive offense from the back end. He’s a future No. 1 defenseman who will log 25-28 minutes per night and run the power play.
Schaefer’s ability to dictate play from the back end is franchise-changing for the Isles. Schaefer will attend development camp next week, and it is highly likely he starts the season in the NHL lineup. Don’t be surprised if Schaefer is running the power play and logging major minutes by November.
A very emotional Schaefer hugged his family and pulled on the Isles jersey for the first time, with a cancer patch. Through tears, he shared his excitement and emotion, and gained the hearts of a lot more than just Isles fans.
Team: Saginaw (OHL)
DOB: 02/16/2007 | Ht: 6-0.75 | Wt: 184 | Shot: L
2024-25 stats: GP: 65 | G: 62 | A: 72 | P: 134
Scouting notes: Granted exceptional status in the OHL in 2022, Misa delivered one of the most remarkable goal-scoring seasons in recent memory in 2024-25, netting 62 goals in just 65 games. He projects to be a top-line forward capable of consistently exceeding 90 points per season in the NHL.
Misa’s offensive instincts are elite. He processes the game at a high level and executes at top speed. Scouts believe he is NHL-ready and has the potential to become an elite top-line center. Away from the puck, Misa excels at finding soft areas in coverage and has a flair for delivering in clutch moments. His combination of high-end playmaking and goal-scoring ability makes him a constant dual threat in the offensive zone.
How he fits: The Sharks kept everyone guessing until the very last moment, but ultimately selected Misa. He is a special talent and adds a second elite two-way center to the organization. He projects as a first-line star, with dual-threat playmaking and scoring ability — notching 62 goals in 65 OHL games.
If Misa’s two-way game continues to improve, there’s a real chance the Sharks will have two centers capable of dominating play in all three zones with 2024 No. 1 pick Macklin Celebrini already in place. On the power play, Misa can facilitate, be a shooting threat and carry the puck on entries. Because of his dual-threat capabilities, he can play the bumper, the flank or down low. With this selection, the Sharks have the potential to feature the best one-two punch down the middle for years to come.
Team: Djurgarden (SWEDEN-2)
DOB: 05/07/2007 | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 198 | Shot: L
2024-25 stats: GP: 29 | G: 11 | A: 14 | P: 25
Scouting notes: Frondell is a versatile two-way forward that plays both center and right wing. His flexibility is attractive to teams, although many believe he is most likely to reach his potential as a winger in the NHL.
Frondell is coming off one of the most productive seasons by an under-18 player in Allsvenskan history, giving him a confident projection as a first-line NHL forward. He’s a cerebral player, who picks apart defenders in one-on-one situations and defensive coverage in offensive zone play. The details of Frondell’s game are translatable, including excellent forechecking ability, willingness to attack the middle of the ice and high-end anticipation on both sides of the puck.
He has shown play-driving capabilities against men in the Allsvenskan, which has translated to the NHL for other prospects in the past. He’s projected to produce between 75-85 points per season. His style of play translates well and has executives excited about his ability to step in the league in the next 18 months.
How he fits: It was no secret that Chicago wanted to add some size up front, and Frondell is exactly that. He can play center or the wing, and brings an excellent two-way game. He confidently projects as a first-line forward that beats defenders one-on-one, drives play on both sides of the puck, and should score nearly a point per game.
He plays on the inside of the ice and has the ability to score 30-plus goals in the NHL because of his excellent shot. Frondell is a year away from playing in the NHL, and probably two or three from hitting his potential as a top-line forward who drives play. Chicago can play him behind Connor Bedard up the middle, or on Bedard’s line to capitalize on the versatility he brings.
Team: Moncton (QMJHL)
DOB: 04/11/2007 | Ht: 6-1.5 | Wt: 178 | Shot: L
2024-25 stats: GP: 56 | G: 35 | A: 49 | P: 84
Scouting notes: Described as a “coach’s dream” because of his ability to take an offensive or checking assignment and execute consistently. He makes smart, simple plays, provides a physical presence on the forecheck and generally agitates and makes life difficult on defenders.
He projects to be a quality second-line center with a decent chance of becoming a first-line player. He’s cerebral, with quick hands and playmaking ability. He’s not flashy, but he’s consistently effective and makes intelligent plays with the puck. As one scouting director described “he’s the type of player you win with.” Some have quietly compared him to Patrice Bergeron and Jonathan Toews, who are lofty comparisons, to say the very least.
How he fits: The Mammoth kept everyone guessing, would they trade or keep the pick. Ultimately, they kept the pick and selected Desnoyers. He can play in any situation as one of the best two-way players available. He’s a serial winner who plays whatever style of game required to win. If he needs to produce offense, he does. If he needs to shut down the opponent’s best, he does that too.
Utah needed some size and two-way capability to mesh with Logan Cooley, Clayton Keller and Dylan Guenther, and Caleb Desnoyers is exactly that. He’ll be NHL-ready a lot sooner than people think because his professional details are top-notch. He projects as a play-driving, two-way, second line center that the Mammoth will turn to in key situations. As noted above, there’s a lot of Jonathan Toews in Desnoyers’ game, which will excite Mammoth fans, management and coaches.
Team: Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
DOB: 03/16/2007 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 178 | Shot: R
2024-25 stats: GP: 57 | G: 33 | A: 39 | P: 72
Scouting notes: A Swiss Army knife type of player who will be most effective on the wing because of his strong wall play, Martin projects as a middle-six forward capable of scoring 20 goals routinely, with upside as a second-line forward.
He’s a wrecking ball that will bring value in all three zones, on and off the puck. Martin has scouts raving about him after an excellent performance at the IIHF under-18 championship, with many opining that he could go very early in the first round. He’s a workhorse without an off switch, who brings a blend of physicality and hard skill. He’s a nightmare to contain with his brute strength, and forces defenders into precarious positions with good speed and willingness to make “winning” plays.
Several teams mentioned how impressive Martin was during interviews at the combine. Combine an attractive personality with the hard-nosed style, and it forms a rare combination that is valuable to many scouts who believe he’s the type of player teams need to win in the playoffs. Surely, his mention of Conn Smythe winner Sam Bennett as a role model grabbed attention.
6. Philadelphia Flyers
7. Boston Bruins
8. Seattle Kraken
9. Buffalo Sabres
10. Anaheim Ducks
11. Pittsburgh Penguins
12. Pittsburgh Penguins (from NYR)
13. Detroit Red Wings
14. Columbus Blue Jackets
15. Vancouver Canucks
16. New York Islanders (from CGY via MTL)
17. New York Islanders (from MTL)
18. Calgary Flames (from NJ)
19. St. Louis Blues
20. Columbus Blue Jackets (from MIN)
21. Ottawa Senators
22. Philadelphia Flyers (from COL)
23. Nashville Predators (from TB)
24. Los Angeles Kings
25. Chicago Blackhawks (from TOR)
26. Nashville Predators (from VGK via SJ)
27. Washington Capitals
28. Winnipeg Jets
29. Carolina Hurricanes
30. San Jose Sharks (from DAL)
31. Philadelphia Flyers (from EDM)
32. Calgary Flames (from FLA)
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Greg Wyshynski
Florida Panthers playoff MVP Sam Bennett told fans during the team’s Stanley Cup celebrations this week that he wasn’t leaving.
He was a man of his word.
Bennett signed an eight-year contract extension with Florida, the team announced hours before the NHL draft Friday night. He was set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, when he would have been one of the most coveted centers available.
Bennett’s new contract has a salary cap hit of $8 million annually, up from $4.425 million on his previous contract but below what Bennett was expected to be offered from other teams as a free agent. The Panthers are one of several NHL teams that play in a state with no income tax, which has become a hot-button issue in the league as teams such as Florida, Tampa Bay and Vegas have all won Stanley Cups recently.
Bennett, 29, had 25 goals and 26 assists in 76 games during the regular season. To say he levels up in the playoffs would be an understatement: Bennett had 11 goals and 12 assists (23 points) in 21 games, playing a physical game that resulted in him winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. Last postseason, Bennett had 14 points in 19 playoff games during the Panthers’ first of back-to-back Stanley Cup wins.
“Sam is a special player who has mastered a unique blend of skill and physicality in his game, becoming one of the most impactful postseason performers of his generation,” Panthers GM Bill Zito said. “He played an integral role in our two Stanley Cup championships, earning the franchise’s first Conn Smythe Trophy and is a dedicated contributor to our South Florida community off the ice. We are thrilled that he will continue his career with the Panthers.”
In his 691 games with the Panthers and Calgary Flames, from which Florida acquired him in 2021, Bennett has 162 goals and 174 assists.
Bennett was one of three high-profile pending unrestricted free agents for the Panthers this offseason, along with winger Brad Marchand and defenseman Aaron Ekblad.
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