"He could play in the NBA right now; he could play football" - Red Sox pitcher Kenley Jansen believes Mookie Betts can dominate multiple sports

Right-handed pitcher Kenley Jansen has expressed confidence in Mookie Betts' ability to play multiple sports. Jansen has spent a significant portion of his 15-season career with the Los Angeles Dodgers. His long tenure allowed him to share the field with many Dodgers stars, including Betts.

Kenley Jansen and Betts were teammates on the Dodgers from 2020 to 2021. In an episode of 'Baseball Isn't Boring' podcast, Jansen talked about how Betts could shine in sports other than baseball.

“Mookie is so gifted, that I could tell you right now — no disrespect to NBA players or NFL players — any sport that he does, that he puts his hands on, he’s just that gifted that he could play in the NBA right now, he could play football right now,” Kenley Jansen said.

“I understand how hard it is for anybody to cross over but Bo Jackson did it. Brian Jordan did it. Deion Sanders did it.”

Jansen expressed that although playing multiple sports is challenging, several players have achieved the feat, and Mookie Betts could do the same. Bo Jackson, Brian Jordan and Deion Sanders are examples of dual-sport athletes in MLB history.

Brian Jordan played for the St. Louis Cardinals in MLB and was also a part of the NFL. Bo Jackson played for the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Angels in Major League Baseball and was also part of the LA Raiders.

Deion Sanders played in both MLB and NFL, becoming the only athlete to participate in both the Super Bowl and the World Series.

---

Kenley Jansen says Mookie Betts’ talent on par with legends like LeBron James and Michael Jordan

Mookie Betts has explored multiple sports, including basketball, bowling and even golf. He also served as the football manager at Overton High School, according to FOX 17.

Kenley Jansen is confident in Mookie Betts's ability to excel in football and even compared him with other sports legends:

“To me he’s just a generational player — LeBron, Michael Jordan — Mookie Betts is one of them… If he had to be a running back in football, a wide receiver — he is that good. He is just that gifted. People might not see it but I was his teammate a couple years. I saw it. He’s that gifted.”

Betts has earned several awards and achievements during his 11-season MLB career. He's an eight-time All-Star, a two-time World Series champion and is also considered a future Baseball Hall of Famer.