After going deep against the San Diego Padres on Thursday night, Los Angeles Dodgers MVP candidate Cody Bellinger joined Willie Mays (31 in 1954) as the only National Leagues players under 25 years old to hit at least 30 home runs before the All-Star break, per STATS LLC.
He joined a group of only 38 players in MLB history with at least 30 home runs by the All-Star break. Of those, only 19 are from the National League, and Bellinger is the lone Dodgers player to accomplish the feat.
Reggie Jackson (37), Mark McGwire (33) and Mays (31) are players under the age of 24 who have hit the most homers before the break. Bellinger will turn 24 years old on July 13.
Bellinger is in the midst of an outstanding season, and he was recently named an NL starter in the All-Star Game for the first time in his career.
After a torrid pace at the plate, it recently looked as if Bellinger would not reach 30 home runs before the break. But his surge of three home runs in the last two games got him there.
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich is the only other player in baseball with more home runs at 31.
Bellinger is among the Major League leaders in almost all hitting categories, batting .344/.438/.711 with 70 runs scored and 71 RBI.
When he hit his 28th and 29th long balls, including a walk-off, in Wednesday night’s win over the Arizona Diamondbacks, Bellinger set the Dodgers franchise record for most home runs before the All-Star break. Gil Hodges (1951) and Duke Snider (1955) each hit 28. Garry Sheffield held the L.A. franchise record with 27 homers in 2000.
Bellinger is leading the way offensively, but the entire Dodgers team has been on a roll as of late. After defeating the Padres in their series opener Thursday night, Los Angeles has now won four straight games overall and 10 straight at the friendly confines of Dodger Stadium.
The Dodgers’ franchise record for total home runs in a season is 49, set by Shawn Green in 2001. If Bellinger keeps up his current pace, he will shatter that mark and potentially even approach 60.
The last players to hit 60 or more were Barry Bonds (73) and Sammy Sosa (64) in 2001, although they were both connected to steroids at the time.
