It was meaningless, in the grand scheme of things – just a guy taking some hacks off another guy during Spring Training batting practice.

But when one guy is Dodgers All-Star right-hander Walker Buehler and the other guy is perennial All-Star Mookie Betts, it was one of those moments where anyone within eyesight stopped and watched.

“It was great!” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of the epic encounter between the two superstars during Buehler’s first live batting practice session of the Spring on Friday morning. “Obviously, there’s competition. Mookie put a good swing on a breaking ball. Obviously, there’s love and respect between players. And so, Walker, where he’s at, we got him up and down, getting his work in. It was a very productive day all the way around.”

The first time through, the 26-year-old Buehler got the better of Betts, striking him out looking on a filthy curveball.

But the second time through, the 28-year-old Betts got the better of the young Dodgers right-hander, taking him (very) deep to left field.

Great indeed … just as it should be.

Play Ball!

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