One of the defining plays of the Boston Red Sox’s young season might have never happened without indirect help from Peyton Manning.
Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts helped improve his speed and base-running ability at Manning’s D1 Sports Training facility in Nashville, Tenn., this offseason, according to The Boston Herald’s Jason Mastrodonato.
“Pretty much just all the things we did as far as the drills, it was a way to learn to run,” Betts told the Herald. “It wasn’t anything in specific that I can point to. But it was the whole aspect of just running. It was just a bunch of drills we had done and it all pretty much came together. I’m still not perfect obviously, but I just feel like I’m cleaner, have a better chance of stealing more bases.”
Typically there’s no love lost between New Englanders and Manning, but the Denver Broncos quarterback should receive a hearty golf clap the next time he comes to town for assisting a Boston team. Without Manning’s help, Betts could have been a split second late on the incredible double steal he pulled off during in Red Sox’s home opener.
Betts is 5-for-5 in stolen bases through 18 games this season, and he’s on pace for 43 swiped bags. He stole just seven bases in seven bases on 10 attempts last season in 52 games.
Thumbnail photo via David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports Images
