Although Cody Bellinger passed on participating in this year’s Home Run Derby, his presence very much was felt throughout 2019 MLB All-Star Game festivities. Bellinger was among five Los Angeles Dodgers players to earn an All-Star selection, and one of their two starters.
With Hyun-Jin Ryu on the mound, Bellinger had a familiar viewpoint as he manned right field and batted cleanup in the youngest National League lineup (by average age) in All-Star Game history. Bellinger didn’t produce any fireworks, however, going 0-for-2 with a pair of strikeouts.
Aside from the excitement and experience that comes with starting in a Midsummer Classic, a highlight for Bellinger came in the second inning when he and Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich each wore an earpiece and microphone during play.
The NL MVP frontrunners were able to interact with one another, plus Joe Buck and John Smoltz in the FOX booth during the broadcast. The feature was one Bellinger enjoyed because of what it meant for fans, via Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:
“It gives the fans some insight in our personality and what we talk about on the baseball field,” he said. “I think it’s pretty cool.”
"Somebody go get that!" 😂
Joe @Buck was interviewing @ChristianYelich and @Cody_Bellinger when Michael Brantley drove in the first run of the All-Star Game. pic.twitter.com/n7MR8icLDt
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 10, 2019
While he was hitless on the night, Bellinger took a big-picture view of returning to the All-Star Game for a second time in his young career:
“It was awesome,” he said. “I think I tried to soak it in more — the media, the autographs, the Home Run Derby, the game. You never know when it’s going to be the last one. I just enjoyed it.”
Bellinger and Yelich were among the stars MLB promoted throughout their jeweled event. The two starred in an ‘MVP’ commercial that was unveiled Monday.
Bellinger and Yelich have developed a budding friendship, and one in which the Dodgers’ All-Star was appreciative of to receive valuable advice from the reigning MVP.
