Boston Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts has a while to go before reporting for spring training, so he's finding ways to fill the time. For instance: competing at the World Series of Bowling in Reno, where he is doing extremely well considering he has a not insignificant day job.
Here he is bowling strike five of six straight:
The fifth of six straight. Putting together probably his best game of the day. pic.twitter.com/CTL1T3M52a
— Julian Benbow (@julianbenbow) December 9, 2015
The tournament kicked off Tuesday, with Betts scoring as high as 249 on his first day.
Yup, that's a number. pic.twitter.com/dLNZxBTNyo
— Julian Benbow (@julianbenbow) December 9, 2015
Also present: professional bowler Tommy Jones.
Mookie Betts chopping with Tommy Jones. pic.twitter.com/PNVRIMVuNv
— Julian Benbow (@julianbenbow) December 7, 2015
As a high school student, Betts believed he would become a professional bowler. More recently, the 23-year-old has suggested he might pursue it after retiring from baseball. The Boston Herald reports:
Betts routinely bowls multiple times per week with his family during the offseason. He averaged 240 at John Overton High School in Tennessee, despite playing on the basketball team simultaneously during the winter sports season. It was something his coaches had to agree on, each deciding Betts’ talent was worth sharing.
Betts always figured he’d try bowling professionally when his baseball career ended, but he was given a special chance this offseason, when the Professional Bowling Association caught wind of Betts’ passion for the sport and invited him to compete in the World Series.
Betts, it turns out, is good at a lot of things.
Here's Betts dunking in high school:
And again:
Let's hear it for Betts' bowling career. 71 days till pitchers and catchers report.