Since making his MLB debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2017, Cody Bellinger has established himself as one of the game’s most feared sluggers. He hit 39 home runs in 132 games as a rookie, which at the time marked a National League record.
Bellinger followed up by belting a combined 72 home runs between the 2018-19 seasons, including 47 in the latter that ended with him earning NL MVP honors.
Still just 25 years old, Bellinger grew up during an era in which it was common to see certain players hit as many as 40 home runs, if not more, over a stretch of multiple seasons.
Among the players routinely at the top of the leaderboard included Barry Bonds and Ken Griffey Jr., who respectively rank Nos. 1 and 7 in all-time home runs.
During a recent video call with Christian Yelich, Bellinger named Bonds and Griffey as two players he would love to talk hitting with, via MLB Network:
“My two are always Ken Griffey Jr. and Barry Bonds. Hearing those guys talk about what they did would be pretty sweet. … I wonder what [Griffey] thought. That would be crazy.”
Yelich additionally named Bonds and Griffey, but added Ichiro, who tallied 4,367 hits in his professional career across Japan and the United States.
Bellinger and Yelich have collaborated before on several projects, including most recently starring in an Old Spice commercial together.
The two have enjoyed similar career paths thus far, with Yelich winning the NL MVP Award in 2018 and finishing second to Bellinger the following year.
Griffey hired as special advisor to MLB commissioner Rob Manfred
Earlier this year, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred announced the hiring of Griffey as one of his special advisors in the league office.
In his new role, Griffey will consult on a number of issues, including baseball operations and diversifying youth baseball development, as well as serving as an ambassador at youth baseball initiatives and special events.
“I am humbled to be asked to work with Major League Baseball in this role. It will be an honor to represent the best sport in the world and to promote our game among today’s youth,” Griffey said at the time.
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