Shohei Ohtani’s impressive speed helped him get a career-high 59 stolen bases in the 2024 season, and it seems like his teammate Mookie Betts is not that much surprised by it. Betts recently appeared on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” where he only had great things to say about Ohtani.
During the talk show, host Jimmy Kimmel asked Betts whether he was quicker than his Japanese teammate. The two-time World Series champion replied (2:13):
“No chance [I’m faster than Ohtani]. He would beat [me in a race]. He would beat pretty much everybody.”
Betts also said that playing with Shohei Ohtani was a humbling experience, even stating nobody could ever surpass the baseball talents of his teammate.
Trending Luis Arraez’s wife Gladys, Bobby Witt Jr.’s fiancee Maggie react as their partners beat Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge to claim batting titles Mookie Betts & Fernando Tatis Jr. agree “Shohei Ohtani can dunk” but doubt Aaron Judge’s hypothetical dunk contest ability Phillies insider urges “Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, Realmuto, Wheeler, Nola, Turner, Castellanos nucleus” to win World Series before window shuts”You work so hard, you know, your whole life, and you want to be the best,” Betts said. “And no matter how hard you work, you’re not going to be better than that [of Shohei Ohtani].”
Despite Betts praising his teammate as the fastest, the consensus is that Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr. and Reds’ Elly De La Cruz are the quickest. Nevertheless, Ohtani’s quickness was on full display in the 2024 season where he stole 59 bases, only behind De La Cruz who topped the list with 67.
Mookie Betts explains his reluctance to stay at Pfister Hotel
The Pfister Hotel in Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, has a reputation for being ‘haunted.’ Most of the visiting teams playing the Brewers stayed at the hotel, and many spooky stories are associated with the place. As such, Mookie Betts won’t stay at the hotel.
On the LA Dodgers’ last visit to Milwaukee, Betts didn’t stay there even though all his teammates were there. The eight -time All-Star was asked about it on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” Betts said (5:58):
“I’m pretty sure everybody in here is familiar with ghosts, and I’m pretty sure most people in here would be scared if ghosts were in your rooms. I don’t know if I’d be scared or not. I’m going to assume I would, but I just would prefer not to find out.”
When enquired by Kimmel about his beliefs in ghosts, Betts replied he didn’t know but revealed he believed in spirits. Therefore, he didn’t want to take the chance of meeting any at the Pfister Hotel.
Funnily enough, Mookie Betts revealed he might change his stance on the hotel if the spirits ask him to play pickleball, Betts’s favorite game outside baseball.