MLB Insider Reports Concern From Yankees Regarding Former Dodgers MVP Cody Bellinger

Since the very first time he hit free agency last year, it has always appeared that there has been an interest from the New York Yankees in acquiring former Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder, Cody Bellinger.

However, according to a report from Jon Heyman of The New York Post, there has been some cause for concern from the Yankees in regard to the former 2019 NL MVP and 2020 World Series Champion.

“The Yankees like free agent Cody Bellinger, but some Yankees people are worried about his hard-hit rate even after his brilliant season.”

Per Jon Heyman of The New York Post

After underperforming in LA from 2020-2022, the Dodgers decided to let Bellinger walk in free agency. He would then go on and take the league by storm when he would sign with the Chicago Cubs and become the 2023 Comeback Player of the Year.

This past year, Bellinger finished with a slash line of .307/.356/.525 with 26 home runs, 97 RBI, and 29 doubles proving that all he needed was a breath of fresh air and a nice change of scenery.

However, it appears that his hard-hit rate from last year is a concern for New York.

According to Baseball Savant, his hard-hit rate for 4-seam fastballs has gone down to 33.3 percent. In 2019, when he won the MVP, his hard-hit rate for fastballs sat at 50.6 percent.

In his last couple of seasons with the Dodgers, Bellinger dealt with a few injuries, including a dislocated shoulder he suffered in the 2020 NLCS when celebrating a go-ahead home run.

While you could speculate that Bellinger’s shoulder hasn’t necessarily recovered properly, you can’t disagree with the results.

If last year’s season has proven anything for the former MVP, it’s that he looks to be back and could be a huge contributor to any team heading into next year.

Photo Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports