Mookie Betts and wife Brianna's 5050 Foundation champions for youth baseball celebrating Juneteenth

Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts has been the most recognizable baseball star of African American descent in the modern era. In celebration of Juneteenth, Betts' 50/50 Foundation, launched alongside his wife Brianna, sends a message of encouragement to the youth.

A video shared by the foundation on Instagram illustrated how only 6% of current MLB players are of African American origin. Based on reports in 2023, the league boasts the most diversity among all professional sports, with around 40% of its rosters having diverse backgrounds.

However, only a small portion of the players are African American. The 6% is a far cry from players of Latino/Hispanic origins, which is around 31%.

"Did you know? Only 6% of players on all 30 MLB team rosters are African American. Representation and visibility matters," Mookie Betts' 50/50 Foundation wrote via Instagram.

The foundation's mission is to encourage youth from minorities and under-represented sectors by establishing programs to help with the children's mental, physical, financial and nutritional needs.

Mookie Betts' love for bowling powers 50/50 Foundation

In February, the Dodgers star held his annual Mookie Betts and Friends Bowling Tournament for the second straight year in Los Angeles. The sporting event's proceeds then went to the 50/50 Foundation.

As many of his fans know, Betts is an avid bowler and spends a lot of time knocking down pins away from knocking baseballs out of the park. Betts' mother, Diana Benedict, was a bowler in his hometown of Nashville, Tennessee.

Betts and Brianna visited UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital in September 2023 to assist with pediatric patients' needs.

“Our main goal is to be a supporting cast to children in need," Betts said (via the5050foundation.org).

Apart from sports programs established by the foundation, it also prides itself in helping those in need of medical care.

“While we are adding new programs to our year-round activations, we will be reactive to different needs within the community as they arise.”

Betts is currently on the Dodgers' injured list as he fractured his left hand on Sunday and is expected to miss six to eight weeks.