Foul Ball Hits Betts Again, But He Homers Right After
Listen to the story
Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts was hit by a foul ball for the second time in recent weeks.
The ball came off the bat of his teammate Max Muncy during a batting practice or game situation.
Last month, a similar foul ball from Muncy hit Betts directly in the head, causing concern among players and fans.
That time, Betts was checked and was found to be unhurt.
This time, the foul ball hit Betts again, but he was once more unharmed.
Soon after the incident, Betts hit a solo home run, giving his team an early lead.
Despite this positive moment, Betts has been struggling badly at the plate this season.
His slugging percentage currently sits at just .192, a very low number for a player of his skill.
Betts is known as one of the top hitters in baseball, making this slump surprising to fans.
He has admitted that the situation is difficult, saying he does not know how to overcome it.
This slump has become a serious concern for the Dodgers, who rely on Betts as a key player.
The team is hoping he can return to his usual form soon, as they continue their season.
Vocabulary10 words
- foul ball
- a hit ball that lands outside the field lines
- batting practice
- time before a game when players practice hitting
- unharmed
- not hurt or injured
- solo home run
- a home run hit with no runners on base
- slugging percentage
- a stat showing a hitter's power
- overcome
- to succeed in solving a problem
- slump
- a long period of bad performance
- concern
- worry about something
- rely on
- to depend on someone for help
- incident
- something that happens, often unexpected
Quiz
Answer key
1. He was hit by a foul ball from Muncy 2. .192 3. He hit a solo home run
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts was hit by a _____ for the second time in recent weeks.
The ball came off the bat of his teammate Max Muncy during a _____ situation.
Last month, a similar foul ball from Muncy hit Betts directly in the head, causing _____ among players and fans.
This time, the foul ball hit Betts again, but he was once more _____.
Soon after the incident, Betts hit a _____, giving his team an early lead.
His _____ currently sits at just .192, a very low number for a player of his skill.
He has admitted that the situation is difficult, saying he does not know how to _____ it.
This slump has become a serious concern for the Dodgers, who _____ Betts as a key player.
Discussion questions
- Have you ever seen a strange or unlucky sports incident like this one?
- Why do you think slumps happen to even the best athletes?
- How important is mental strength in overcoming a slump like Betts'?
- What advice would you give a struggling athlete like Betts?