With a record-breaking Rookie of the Year season behind him, Cody Bellinger was confident he would avoid a sophomore slump with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2018. While Bellinger was still productive, he failed to meet expectations and was among the players who were platooned.
Holes in Bellinger’s swing made him susceptible against left-handed pitching, particularly on breaking balls low and away and velocity inside. So he spent this past offseason focused on improving and again becoming an everyday player in 2019.
Bellinger spent countless winter hours at Dodger Stadium working on mechanics with new Dodgers hitting coach Robert Van Scoyoc and returning hitting strategist Brant Brown.
Bellinger has reaped the benefit of that as he’s off to a blistering start and in the thick of the early conversation for National League MVP. In an interview with Tom Verducci on MLB Network, Bellinger explained his offseason work entailed studying film from his breakout rookie season:
“With Van Scoyoc and Brownie, both hitting coaches, honestly we didn’t watch any video of 2018. We strictly watched video of 2017. We just kind of looked at what I did good and why I was having success. And when I wasn’t having success, what was the reason for that? Found drills that would benefit fit me. Eventually through Spring Training making it your own swing again, making it feel comfortable and having a base that you can go off every day to make adjustments from there.”
In addition to his work in the batting cage, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts referenced the offseason discussions Bellinger had with the club’s hitting coaches as being key to his success. Bellinger credited them for assisting with regaining his confidence.
He enters play Thursday leading the Majors in runs scored (28), total hits (39), batting average (.424), slugging percentage (.891), on-base plus slugging (1.391), OPS+ (252) and total bases (82).
Bellinger’s 12 home runs and 30 RBI second only to Christian Yelich, who has 13 and 31, respectively.
