Dodgers: How Cody Bellinger Became Baseball’s Best 2019 Player
Do you want to know how Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Cody Bellinger became baseball’s best player through May of 2019?
Undoubtedly, Bellinger has reached the big time. One big signal: Ken Rosenthal is writing the pieces about him on The Athletic at the current time. This one is worth your time to sit down and take in fully.
How did Cody Bellinger go from hitting only one home run in high school to dominating baseball as its best player in 2019?@Ken_Rosenthal of @TheAthleticMLB details the development of the Dodgers slugger.https://t.co/apae1agSuI
— The Athletic L.A. (@TheAthleticLA) May 24, 2019
While Rosenthal goes all the way back to Bellinger’s humble beginnings, many quotes and anecdotes are mixed nicely within this story. We learn that Cody is one of the Dodgers that actually prefers dairy. Moreover, Clay Bellinger didn’t want Cody coming up through the minor leagues hitting in a cold climate like he did. And did you know that Bellinger hit just one home run in High School?
Other hitting coaches say that Bellinger always has remained with a good attitude through struggles, and has never played with doubt or anxiety. Therefore, the confidence we see in his game is real.
Perhaps the turning point of Bellinger’s development was Los Angeles hiring Robert Van Scoyoc from Arizona, the story tells us. Furthermore, Bellinger refocused his mental approach to the game by talking a lot of hitting with veteran Justin Turner.
Once again, we have to point back to our interview with Brant Brown in the winter months. It was there that Brown said Bellinger was making major strides – and the Dodgers’ hitting strategist said we would see the return of a dominant offensive player.
Now, Brown tells Rosenthal that Bellinger looking bored at the plate is a sign of his comfort in the box.
“It’s tempo, being relaxed,” Brown explains. “If you look at (Miguel) Cabrera, guys like that, there is no panic in their swing. Their swing doesn’t break down when they’re fooled. (Turner) does it probably better than anyone on our team. (Bellinger) was kind of max effort last year, trying to make up for all the low times or cold moments in the season with one swing.”
Finally, when you’re having the type of season that Bellinger is; you’re going to get national writers like Rosenthal calling you the best player in the game. That’s worth it’s weight in gold for the time being.
This is an awesome read – and well worth the subscription to The Athletic to read the quotes and stories about how Bellinger became a finished product for the Dodgers in 2019.
