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Updated Mar 06, 2025All About Mookie Betts' Swoon-Worthy Love Story With His High School Sweetheart
The Dodgers outfielder and his wife, Brianna, first crossed paths in middle school.
Photo: Jerritt Clark | WireImage
Some love stories are simply meant to be, and such is the case for Mookie Betts and his wife, Brianna (Hammonds) Betts. The Dodgers' star outfielder has been married to his high school sweetheart since 2021, and this MLB romance is easily one of our favorites. After meeting in middle school, the couple began dating not long after—and she's been by his side throughout his incredible baseball career (which includes two World Series victories and an MVP win...NBD).
Off the field, the pair are proud parents to two children. After he planned a lavish engagement—complete with a fake awards ceremony dinner—in 2021, they tied the knot by the end of that year. Using their platform for good, the pair also launched a charitable foundation that supports kids in financial and medical need. Swooning yet? Below, we look back on Mookie Betts and his wife's powerful love story, including our favorite details from their California wedding day.
- Mookie Betts' wife is Brianna (Hammonds) Betts. They met in middle school and began dating as teenagers.
- After getting engaged in January 2021, Mookie and Brianna Betts got married in California by the end of that year.
- Mookie Betts and his wife share two children: daughter Kynlee Ivory and son Kaj Lynn.
In this article:
- Who is Mookie Betts' Wife, Brianna Hammonds?
- How Mookie Betts and Brianna Hammonds Met
- Mookie Betts and Brianna Hammonds' Relationship Timeline
- Mookie Betts' Wedding Photos & Details
Who is Mookie Betts' Wife, Brianna Hammonds?
Mookie Betts' wife is Brianna (Hammonds) Betts. A philanthropist and entrepreneur, Hammonds went to school with Betts in Nashville and has been by his side throughout his entire career in the MLB. She's the owner of Honee, a new business that she began teasing on social media in the summer of 2024. She also dedicates her time to giving back. In 2021, the couple joined forces to launch the 5050 Foundation, a charitable organization that aims to provide young children "with the support needed for success both on and off the field - specifically with resources in the realms of physical activity, nutrition, mental health, and financial literacy."
FEATURED VIDEO FROM THE KNOT
How Mookie Betts and Brianna Hammonds Met
The MLB star, whose full name is Markus Lynn Betts, met his longtime love when they were in middle school. In an interview with Ebony, Hammonds recalled the first moment they spoke when she was in seventh grade, and he was in eighth. "One of my best friends who passed away thought [Mookie] was cute and I said, 'Girl go talk to him!'" she recalled. "She was too scared to talk to him, so I told him, 'My girlfriend likes you. Will you talk to her?' And he kept saying no."
As it turned out, Betts was more interested in Hammonds, and he asked her out a few months later. "When I finally asked her out, she said she didn't hear me, but she heard me…So the next day I end up asking her again," he told the outlet. "I'm thinking, You get one shot. I only have but so much courage, I'm pacing in my room and thinking, I ain't asking again. I don't know what [made] me ask again," he remembered. "She said yes and my MySpace status changed."
Mookie and Brianna Betts' Relationship Timeline
For nearly two decades, Brianna Hammonds has been Mookie Betts' proudest supporter. Here's a glimpse into the story of their relationship, which began in middle school.
Mid 2000s: Mookie Betts and Brianna Hammonds Start Dating
While they met for the first time in middle school, Mookie Betts and his wife didn't begin dating until a few years later—and the rest truly is history.
2014: Brianna Hammonds Celebrates Mookie Betts' MLB Debut
The Boston Red Sox selected Mookie Betts in the 2011 draft, leading the athlete to rescind his commitment to the University of Tennessee. Instead, he signed with the team and made his MLB debut in 2014. In the decade since, he's been an eight-time All-Star, a six-time Silver Slugger Award winner, a six-time Gold Glove Award recipient, a two-time World Series champion, and he was named the Most Valuable Player in the American League in 2018. Needless to say, Betts has built quite the legacy—and his wife has been cheering him on through every step.
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November 6, 2018: Mookie Betts and Brianna Hammonds Welcome Their First Child
Mere weeks after Mookie Betts won his first World Series in 2018, he experienced another huge milestone: the birth of his first child! On November 6, 2018, Betts and Hammonds welcomed daughter Kynlee Ivory Betts. "Never knew what unconditional love meant or how it felt until I met this little princess," Betts shared on social media. "Nov 6th 2018 is a day I'll never forget❤️."
January 2021: Mookie Betts Proposes to Brianna Hammonds
Considering they'd been together for so long, Mookie Betts pulled out *all* the stops for his proposal to Brianna Hammonds. The athlete staged a fake dinner ceremony for an award he received from baseball icon CC Sabathia's charitable foundation. They were joined by 40 loved ones at the Nashville dinner, where Betts was eventually called on stage to give a "speech" as he accepted the honor.
As he began to recite a poem, he flipped the script by asking Hammonds to join him so he could properly thank her. He then dropped to one knee, and she said yes, of course! "Winning another World Series was great, but putting a ring on my MVP is the real blessing! I am a blessed man," he told People after the engagement, adding, "Brianna has been by my side since we were teenagers. Together we've grown mentally, physically and spiritually. She is my best friend."
December 2021: Mookie Betts and Brianna Hammonds Get Married
Wasting no time at all, Mookie Betts and Brianna Hammonds tied the knot before the end of the year. The pair swapped vows on December 1, 2021, in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. The event featured live performances and a whopping 200-person guest list, and we break down all the details below.
April 18, 2023: Mookie Betts' Son is Born
Jokingly calling it their "final round," the Betts family announced their second pregnancy in December 2022. Their son, Kaj Lynn Betts, was born the following year. "April 18! GOD blessed us with our beautiful baby boy!" the proud parents shared in a joint Instagram post.
Mookie Betts and Brianna Hammonds' Wedding Photos & Details
Mookie Betts and his wife Brianna got married on December 1, 2021. The couple hosted their rehearsal dinner at Dodger Stadium three days prior (because, where else?). When the big day arrived, the couple was joined by 200 guests at Terranea Resort, an upscale oceanfront venue in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.
The couple's daughter, Kynlee, served as the flower girl for the occasion, and many of Betts' baseball teammates and friends attended as well. The bride wore a strapless mermaid dress with a sweetheart neckline adorned in intricate beading, while the groom opted for a modern green tux.
During the reception, the newlyweds treated their guests to a live performance by Nelly, who delivered a rendition of one of Hammonds' favorite songs. Rapper Lil Wayne also made an appearance during the after-party, which ran late into the evening. "One of the best days of my life!!!," Betts wrote of the celebration on Instagram. "@briannamichelle1 I love you and blessed to call you my wife."
