Many pundits believe Betts, the reigning AL MVP, could create more baseball fans if marketed properlyGETTY IMAGES
Red Sox P David Price said MLB is "probably the worst" league at marketing its players, and he called it "a joke" that his teammate RF Mookie Betts is not currently featured in any league TV ads, according to Christopher Smith of MASSLIVE.com. Price noted Brewers 1B Jesús Aguilar is featured in an MLB Network spot and said, "Great player. I love watching him play. I’ve heard nothing but great things about him. ... But he’s not Mookie Betts. We’re trying to grow this game in the African-American community. Put that guy (Betts) on commercials. That’s how this game grows." Price: "He just won MVP. MLB just needs to step up." Price added players have talked to the MLBPA and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred about the league's marketing efforts "many times" (MASSLIVE.com, 4/6). YAHOO SPORTS' Mark Townsend noted marketing critiques "aren't new to MLB," as the league has been "called out for years over its inability to effectively promote all of its stars, regardless of race." Some progress has "seemingly been made over the last year or so with the league's 'Let the Kids Play' campaign." Still, Price believes that Betts "could be the face" of MLB if the league "put any effort into marketing him" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 4/5).
