‘Love you, big bro’: A call from David Ortiz helped Mookie Betts break out of a playoff slump

Betts said the two have grown even closer in recent years.

Mired in an 0-for-22 playoff slump spanning multiple seasons, Dodgers star Mookie Betts leaned on the wisdom of an old friend to find his footing.

When Betts was “really down,” David Ortiz provided solace and shifted his outlook.

“He called me and gave me words of encouragement, and told me everything was going to be cool,” Betts said Friday on FOX’s postgame show. “Just go smile. Go smile. It worked.”

Betts responded with a home run in Game 3, then another in Game 4, to help the Dodgers ultimately beat the Padres in five games in the National League Division Series.

Ortiz offering Betts reassurance is nothing new. They developed a bond when Betts broke into the league with the Red Sox in the mid-2010s.

“Coming up and debuting, and having him next to me, he doesn’t realize it because he’s playing, but I’m looking at him and he’s an icon to me,” Betts said.

As the years have gone on, with Betts dazzling for a different franchise and Ortiz transitioning into broadcasting, they’ve remained tight.

“The relationship we developed over the time, usually it kind of withers away, especially once he’s retired, and I’m still playing, but it’s actually, I would say, gotten closer as the distance has grown,” Betts said.

After Betts expressed his gratitude, Ortiz pulled out a T-shirt with his own face on it that read: “My dawg,” and gave Betts a heartfelt hug.

“You know I love you, kid,” Ortiz said.

“Love you, big bro,” Betts said.