LA Dodgers Embrace Their Role as the ‘Bad Guys’ in Baseball: A Look at the 2026 Hype Video
Dodgers Embrace ‘Bad Guy’ Image in Viral Hype Video
The Los Angeles Dodgers have taken a bold stance on their identity in a new hype video that debuted on social media this Opening Day. The clip, narrated by actor Jason Bateman, features a provocative question: “What’s wrong with being the bad guy? If being the best makes you bad, then so be it.”
Clocking in at 1 minute and 44 seconds, the video showcases the Dodgers’ dominance as back-to-back World Series champions while embracing their reputation as the MLB’s “bad guys.” The theme music, a track by Billie Eilish from the animated film The Bad Guys, sets an energizing backdrop.
The footage opens with the team’s 2025 World Series trophy and highlights prominent players such as Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and Mookie Betts. Accompanied by roars from fans and the sounds of bats cracking, the images portray both celebrated victories and thrilling plays.
Bateman’s voiceover resonates with fans: “They’ll come for the crown. Take a swing at the champ. They want to beat us because they want to be us. But if we’re being honest, sometimes it’s fun to root for the bad guy.” The narrative intensifies, displaying moments of triumph alongside players making confident eye contact with the camera.
As the montage progresses, Eilish’s lyrics, “I’m the bad guy,” punctuate pivotal scenes. Bateman reiterates, “You need teams like us so you can point your finger and say, ‘That’s the bad guy.’” The screen concludes with the emblem declaring the Dodgers as "Back-to-Back 2024 and 2025 World Champions" before fading to black.
By Friday at 11 a.m., the video had garnered over 1.8 million views on X, along with more than 18,000 likes and 6,000 reposts. It also received significant attention on Instagram, where it amassed over 234,000 likes.
On the field, the Dodgers commenced their season with a convincing 8-2 victory over the Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium. The reigning champions will continue their opening weekend series with two more games against the Diamondbacks on Friday and Saturday.
Prior to Friday night’s match, the team is set to receive their World Series rings in a special ceremony. Next week, they will face off against the Guardians in a three-game series.
As the Dodgers embark on their quest for an unprecedented third consecutive World Series title, they epitomize the challenge and excitement of pursuing greatness—perhaps proving that, at times, being the "bad guys" is just part of the game.
