On a Los Angeles Dodgers roster that features noted sluggers Adrian Gonzalez, Corey Seager and Justin Turner, among others, rookie Cody Bellinger enters play Wednesday leading the team with 17 home runs.
That’s despite Bellinger only having played in 45 games since making his MLB debut on April 25. The 21-year-old was named National League Rookie of the Week after his first full week with the team, and took home NL Rookie of the Month honors for May.
Bellinger joins Mike Piazza (1993) and Seager (2016) as the only Dodgers rookies to have at least four multi-home run games in a single season.
While Bellinger isn’t a likely candidate to reach the 2017 All-Star Game, participating in the Home Run Derby at Marlins Park is within reason.
The league has yet to send formal invitations to players, though Bellinger recently told David Vassegh of AM 570 L.A. Sports Radio he would consider taking part in the derby:
“I don’t know yet. I haven’t been asked, I haven’t really thought much of it. We’ll see, I don’t know for sure. If I get an invite, I’ll talk about it. I think it would be cool, it’s something I’ll consider.”
Like he did with Seager last season, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the team would support Bellinger if he elected to participate in the Home Run Derby.
The Dodgers were represented the past three seasons by then-rookies Yasiel Puig (2014), Joc Pederson (2015) and Seager (2016). Piazza (1993, 1994), Raul Mondesi (1995), Hee-Seop Choi (2005) and Matt Kemp (2011, 2012) round out the organization’s group of participants all-time.
Seager put together the best performance, hitting 15 home runs in a first-round matchup under a new timed format against Baltimore Orioles slugger Mark Trumbo. He led the Majors with 28 home runs at the time.
Bellinger’s 17 homers are tied for seventh-most in the NL. Though, he’s only two off matching Washington Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman for the NL lead.
