Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Cody Bellinger enjoyed a historic rookie season for the ages that netted him a plethora of accolades, including his first All-Star appearance, National League Rookie of the Year honors and a top-10 finish in National League MVP voting.
Bellinger entered the 2018 season with increased expectations placed on himself. He gained 15 pounds of muscle during the winter to help sustain the grueling workload of a 162-game season, and set a personal goal of hitting more home runs than last year.
Thus far, Bellinger has yet to hit for that same power and overall is batting .243/.304/.443 with 10 doubles, seven home runs and 22 RBI through 49 games. He got off to a slow start but then went through an improved stretch at the plate.
In a recent interview on Dodger Talk on AM 570 L.A. Sports Radio, former Dodgers outfielder and current free agent Andre Ethier discussed Bellinger’s impact on the club and said he should just approach the season one game at a time, rather than trying to replicate last year’s success:
“I think it’s more of a thing where he’s coming off a big year, he won every single possible trophy you could win as a rookie and performed the way he did. Sometimes you go out there and you try a little bit too much to repeat that rather than just let your skills and what you’re capable of doing take over. It’s all there. I don’t think it’s mechanical, I don’t think it’s anything I think it’s just getting back into the swing of the season, getting back into the flow of the year. I know he believes, I know he’s confident. But just knowing what he’s capable of doing, what he did last year is last year. It’s a new season, don’t try to have the same numbers but just go out and try to help the team win on a nightly basis and he’ll be fine.”
Bellinger at one point had a modest five-game hitting streak this month but more recently has been held hitless in five of the last seven games.
Even while Bellinger has scuttled some at the plate, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he values the defensive presence he brings. Though since that time, Bellinger has been moved from first base to playing center field more regularly.
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