Mookie Betts Reveals Why He’s Wearing Number 3, Not 50 in WBC

Clint Pasillas03/10/2023

0 1 minute read

Mookie Betts is gone from Dodger camp while he plays with Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. The LA right fielder has already blown up the internet a bit since he joined the favorites to win the tournament. Earlier this week he was photographed alongside Mike Trout of the Angels and baseball Hall of Famer, the legendary Ken Griffey Jr, who is a coach for manager Mark DeRosa’s club.

Keen-eyed viewers also might have spotted something about Betts in the photo. He wasn’t wearing his usual number 50. Jorge Castillo of the LA Times got to the bottom of why.

He said it was his basketball number in high school. https://t.co/Fkvdy7hm72
— Jorge Castillo (@jorgecastillo) March 7, 2023

Importantly, Mookie has also cited NBA legend Allen Iverson as someone who’s had a huge impact on him on a basketball front. Iverson wore number 3 throughout his career, so there’s definitely some connection there.

But the main reason Mookie isn’t wearing 50 on his back is that long-time St. Louis Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright also wears number 50 and Waino has been in the league longer than Betts.

Mookie and Team USA kick off things in the WBC against Team Great Britain on Saturday.

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