Betts Expected to Miss WBC "My wife Said She’d Divorce Me If I’m Not There"

[마이데일리 = 심혜진 기자] Mookie Betts of the LA Dodgers has officially announced that he will not participate in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) scheduled for next year.

Appearing on the streaming platform Kick on the 18th (Korea time), hosted by Adin Ross, Betts said, “I was planning to play in the WBC, but I won’t be able to.”

There was a clear reason. Betts’ wife is currently pregnant with their third child, and the expected due date overlaps with the WBC schedule.

“If I don’t be there for the birth, my wife said she’d divorce me,” Betts explained. “Being a father comes first. That’s what it is.”

Betts competed in the 2023 WBC, helping power a star-studded lineup that included Pete Alonso and Mike Trout as Team USA advanced to the final. However, they fell short against Japan, led by Shohei Ohtani, and finished as runners-up.

With the goal of avenging that loss from three years ago, a wave of superstars is committing to the upcoming tournament. Aaron Judge (New York Yankees), Corbin Carroll (Arizona Diamondbacks), Pete Crow-Armstrong (Chicago Cubs), Kyle Schwarber (Philadelphia Phillies), Bobby Witt Jr. (Kansas City Royals), Cal Raleigh (Seattle Mariners), and Paul Skenes (Pittsburgh Pirates), among other elite big leaguers, are set to take part.

Unfortunately, Betts is expected to be absent from that list. Even without him, attention will be focused on whether Team USA can reclaim the championship for the first time since 2017.