The Los Angeles Dodgers opened the 2025 MLB regular season and the Tokyo Series with a 4-1 win over the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday. However, they did it without eight-time All-Star Mookie Betts.
The 32-year-old superstar shortstop traveled to Japan with the team but battled through an illness in the days leading up to the two-game international opener.
Betts was ruled out of the series on Sunday night and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed early Tuesday that Betts flew home to Los Angeles to “get back to a regular routine.”
He’s expected to be ready for the Dodgers’ home opener against the Detroit Tigers on March 27. On Tuesday, though, another Betts-related announcement began circulating amid the former MLB MVP’s ongoing recovery.
Betts, an avid bowler and former competitive player, was announced as the owner of the World Bowling League’s first franchise.
According to a WBL press release, Betts and his business partner with The One Marketing Group, Cam Lewis, have named it Team OMG.
Among Betts’ career bowling achievements are a perfect 300 game while competing in the 2017 World Series of Bowling, as well as the title of Tennessee boys bowler of the year, which he won in 2010 as a member of his high school team in Nashville. Mookie strikes again. pic.twitter.com/MGuhAWUByT — MLB (@MLB) February 4, 2019
“Bowling has always been my home away from the diamond,” Betts said in a statement Tuesday. “It’s a sport of precision, mindset, and community – values I’ve carried my entire career. …
We’re excited to partner with (CEO) Adi (K Mishra) and the World Bowling League and look forward to bowling along with our team in New York, Dubai, Singapore and more exciting locations.”
The WBL, which is owned and operated by League Sports Co., was first announced in 2024 and will combine “new rules, mixed-gender teams, iconic locations, and dynamic team-based gameplay to reimagine the sport of bowling.”
In its press release on Tuesday, WBL also hinted at “more teams backed by celebrities and iconic sports figures” coming soon.
