SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – MAY 15: Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers walks into the dugout for their game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on May 15, 2024 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
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The Los Angeles Dodgers enjoyed star contributions from virtually every one of their superstar players en route to their second straight World Series championship.
Shohei Ohtani returned to two-way duties, Yoshinobu Yamamoto proved to be a playoff ironman and Freddie Freeman was an All-Star once again.
And even one of the team’s superstars who took a significant step back at the plate was able to turn in another heroic season, as Mookie Betts took on the team’s everyday shortstop duties for the first time in his career and nearly won himself another Gold Glove Award in the process.
“To go out there and play Gold Glove right field for years and to be in the Gold Glove conversation this year, rightfully so, to playing the biggest games, biggest of stages — it’s just never been done,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Betts’ defensive transition during the National League Division Series, per MLB.com’s Sonja Chen. “It takes a special brain and talent to do it.”
Los Angeles Angels Star Zach Neto Challenges Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts To Bowling Match
There’s been little doubt that Betts is a special baseball talent for years, as he’s reached eight of the last 10 All-Star games. But he might be nearly as good as a bowler, and that special skill has now solicited a challenge from another star shortstop in Los Angeles.
“I’ve been trying to make that happen, unfortunately our paths haven’t been able to come through together, but we’re working on it,” Zach Neto, the Los Angeles Angels’ young star shortstop, said about challenging Betts to a bowling match during an appearance on MLB Network Radio. “I’m definitely going to talk to him in spring training and see what we can do to make it happen.”
Los Angeles Angels Shortstop Zach Neto Offers 4-Word Response On Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts Challenge
The 24-year-old Neto enjoyed a best career season with the Angels in 2025, slashing .257/.319/.474 with 26 homers and 26 stolen bases, making the argument that, at least on paper, he is the best shortstop in Los Angeles. For comparison, Betts’ slash line was .258/.326/.406 with 20 homers and eight stolen bases last year.
But Neto conceded that Betts’ is certainly the better bowler out of the two. He noted that Betts’ has enjoyed more than one perfect game, while he has only managed to reach a score of 297.
“I’m excited to challenge,” Neto added on MLB Network Radio. “Hopefully we can make it happen. At the end of the day, it’s going to be for fun and just to be able to join the time with each other. And, you know, we’ll see. Battle of LA.”
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterchawaga/2026/01/21/dodgers-young-rival-star-issues-mookie-betts-challenge/
