Mookie Betts is one of if not the most versatile athlete on the globe.
The Los Angeles Dodgers star has shown that versatility on the diamond, playing award-worthy defense as both an outfielder and a shortstop while leading Major League Baseball in runs scored three times throughout his career and serving as a consistently reliable hitter, hitting 30 or more home runs four times in his 12-season career.
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Additionally, Betts is a superb bowler, with multiple confirmed perfect 300 games, and was a star basketball player in high school, to the point where he almost quit baseball to pursue a college basketball career.
Betts is taking his versatility from the ballpark to the boardroom in his latest venture, investing in baseball entertainment company Home Run Dugout and joining as a brand ambassador and chair of its Athlete Advisory Board.
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Home Run Dugout is a restaurant with a twist — it’s full of indoor Batting Bays where patrons can hit home runs galore using a simulator. The flagship location is in Houston, while the company has also licensed its technology for batting bays at other locations in Texas.
For Betts, the investment opportunity is a chance to make the game he loves more accessible.
“At my core, I’ve always believed baseball should be for everyone. 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,” Betts said of his new business venture. “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.”
According to the Sports Business Journal, Home Run Dugout has expansion plans that include adding locations in Atlanta and San Antonio. With Betts’ investment, the company will pursue opportunities in his hometown of Nashville and his MLB home cities, Boston and Los Angeles.
Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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