While Shohei Ohtani’s blistering 450-foot home run was the obvious highlight from the Dodgers’ 4-1 win over the Nationals, Mookie Betts showed what sportsmanship was all about on Tuesday.
During the fifth inning, the Nationals’ Lane Thomas stole second safely on an errant throw. But on his slide, his leg got caught underneath him with the Nats outfielder in obvious pain.
Betts was closest to Thomas on the play and noticed that Thomas was struggling. He intervened to make sure Thomas didn’t hurt himself worse and caught Thomas as he struggled around the base. And shortly after that, it actually seemed like Thomas was OK.
@mlb Mookie immediately checking on him tells me everything i need to know ❤️ #emotional #baseball #real #moments ♬ slow piano music(1297827) – syummacha
Thomas did stay in the game briefly and shared a laugh with Betts who seemed relieved that Thomas wasn’t seriously hurt. But that knee did start to tighten up on Thomas the following inning, and he was taken out of the game. Thomas is set for an MRI on that knee Wednesday and is likely heading to the injured list.
Still, it was all class from Betts to show concern for Thomas in that moment. Some things are just bigger than the game.
