TORONTO -- You haven't seen Mookie Betts play a single inning without it this season. So evidently something is working.
It is a simple tiny baseball and equally tiny bat held together by a string that hangs around Betts' neck day in, day out, ever since a teenage fan handed the item over to him during spring training.
The accessory stands out in part because it is so unlike what most big leaguers wear, which usually includes a heavy dose of gold or other precious metals. This necklace? It's simplicity is striking. That's why Betts put it on, and hasn't taken it off.
And now -- after having jumped out to an unbelievable start (.350 batting average, 1.192 OPS, 8 homers) -- Betts would love to thank the source of the gift. Except all he knows is that the gifter was a teenager and a Red Sox fan who spent at least some time at spring training.