Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Cody Bellinger took the league by storm in 2017, setting a National League rookie record with 39 home runs en route to winning a unanimous Rookie of the Year Award.
That set the bar for 2018 exceptionally high, but Bellinger didn’t have much concern over that. Then the season began, however, and he’s endured his share of struggles.
Bellinger has gotten hot over recent weeks though, and he explained that’s been more so due to a feel than mechanical adjustments made, via Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“I think there was a lot of searching going on in the beginning, trying to get back to what I did last year or trying to find something new. I kind of found a happy medium now.”
“I think it’s just a matter of feel,” he said, downplaying any swing changes he has made and crediting a better mental approach for the August surge. “What I’ve got right now, I’m using every at-bat to compete. Even when I don’t feel good (with his swing), I’ve got to use that and compete rather than just give away an at-bat.”
Along with teammate Justin Turner, Bellinger has been among the best hitters in all of baseball in the month of August. He recently saw his 12-game hit streak snapped, but is still batting .394 with three home runs and 16 RBI through 19 games this month.
The most important thing for Bellinger throughout the time that he struggled is that he was able to weather the storm and is again producing at an All-Star caliber level. Bellinger credited leadership provided by Matt Kemp as helping him through the rough stretch.
With the Dodgers currently in the midst of a tight division race with a little over a month left in the regular season, they will need Bellinger to continue producing at that level as some of the team’s other key offensive players are currently struggling at the plate.
