Cody Bellinger entered 2022 Spring Training with renewed optimism as he is finally healthy after an injury-plagued season for the Los Angeles Dodgers that saw him put up the worst numbers of his career.
The 26-year-old batted a disappointing .165/.240/.302 with nine doubles, 10 home runs and 36 RBI across 95 games last year, but managed to right the ship in the postseason when he emerged as one of the Dodgers’ most reliable hitters.
Unfortunately for Bellinger, he has not been able to build on that momentum in the first two weeks of Cactus League play. Through 10 games he is hitting just .148/.179/.148 with a 17-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Bellinger downplayed his poor results and believes it is only a matter of time before he turns a corner, via SportsNet LA:
“You know, believe it or not, I’m actually feeling better than what the results are saying. That’s real. It’s what Spring Training is about. Obviously you want to not do what I’m doing, but I feel better than what the stat sheets are showing. … I really do feel close. I feel very confident in what I’m doing.”
Now two offseasons removed from shoulder surgery, Bellinger has continued to tinker with his swing mechanics this spring. He reported to Camelback Ranch with his hands lower and more in front, but recently went back to the form he used during his MVP season.
“I feel very good. I feel stronger,” Bellinger said earlier this month. “I feel like the ball is jumping off the bat more so than it did last year. I’m feeling good. It’s going to be fun and good to get out there, get going again, get your feet wet and get this thing going.”.
Roberts remaining confident as Bellinger works on swing
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts doesn’t believe Bellinger changing his batting stance is the source behind his offensive problems, recently reiterating the issues are more about his timing.
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