Cody Bellinger was activated off the injured list Saturday morning and returned to the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup after missing the past 46 games. He appeared in just four contests before suffering what was ultimately discovered to be a hairline fracture in his left fibula.
“It feels good,” Bellinger said of being on the active roster. “It feels really good. I feel like I really haven’t done this in a while. It’s good to be back, man. Really good.”
He previously referred to the recovery process as being one in which was predicated on the fracture fully healing. Bellinger nevertheless was able to keep active throughout much of the past seven weeks before beginning a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City.
“I’ve been able to hit for a while now. I’ve been swinging for a long time. It was more just can I go with the up and down of innings, to make sure my hammies, my quads, my hips are all good and can handle back-to-back games,” Bellinger explained.
“My body is feeling really good. … It’s been feeling really good. Like I said, I’ve been able to swing since two weeks from the injury. For me personally, that part of it I wasn’t too worried about.
“I knew once my body was able to feel good after consecutive games that I was ready to roll.”
In waiting for the fracture to heal, Bellinger was able to recognize the point at which he could be full-go. “I was always told there will be a day where it feels good. Like day 40 or 41, it was like, ‘Oh, this is finally the turning point,'” he said.
“From the turning point, I was able to run pretty much pain-free. Now it’s playing 120 games, so you’ve got to prepare your body to do that.”
Bellinger went 4-for-20 with two home runs, three RBI and four strikeouts over five starts for Oklahoma City.
Bellinger next to Pujols
Among the moves the Dodgers made to address their roster depth was signing Albert Pujols after he was released by the L.A. Angels.
“It’s amazing, man. I’ve heard nothing but unbelievable things. Obviously I knew that playing against him, but now he’s part of the team,” Bellinger said.
“I’m lucky enough to be locker mates next to him. I know I’m going to take full advantage of being next to a future Hall of Famer and try to learn as much from him as I can.”
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