The 2017 season marked a breakout campaign for Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman and outfielder Cody Bellinger, who took the league by storm by after making his MLB debut in late April.
Bellinger went on to enjoy a rookie season for the ages, which resulted in a plethora of accolades that included his first All-Star Game selection, a top-10 finish in MVP voting and unanimous selection for National League Rookie of the Year.
During an interview with John Hartung of Spectrum SportsNet LA, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts praised Bellinger’s work ethic and focus on nutrition, which he believes will only lead to further success for the young slugger:
“I think there’s a willingness and desire to get better. And that’s something that’s innate in Cody. To understand the year he had but still realize there’s a level two or three that he could get to, so yeah, to put on that good weight and watch his diet, as a young player shows a lot of maturity. It’s going to be fun to watch him try to reach his ceiling. He’s always trying to get better, he’s all about the team.”
Bellinger, fully committed to his offseason conditioning program, bulked up by adding 15 pounds of muscle since the conclusion of the 2017 season.
Last season, Bellinger instantly transformed the middle of the Dodgers lineup by batting .267/.352/.581 with 26 doubles, four triples, 39 home runs and 97 RBI over 548 plate appearances.
He set the NL record for most home runs by a rookie, as well as the Dodgers’ club record. Bellinger did experience growing pains in the postseason, particularly in the World Series where he struck out 17 times in 29 trips to the plate.
Despite this, the 22-year-old is keeping a positive outlook and isn’t concerned about a potential sophomore slump in 2018.