Less than one month after the Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series, Cody Bellinger underwent surgery on his right shoulder that was dislocated during a home run celebration in the National League Championship Series.
At the time of the injury, Bellinger had the shoulder popped back into place and he finished out Game 7 against the Atlanta Braves. He also was in the lineup for all six games of the World Series.
Despite being projected to make a full recovery from the operation in time for the start of Spring Training, Bellinger has yet to appear in a Cactus League game and was also behind in on-field workouts.
That’s changed in some regard as he is taking swings on the field during batting practice as the recovery process continues, via Juan Toribio of MLB.com:
#Dodgers outfielder Cody Bellinger taking some swings out on the field today pic.twitter.com/4sSDr6dO6j
— Juan Toribio (@juanctoribio) March 6, 2021
Bellinger is targeting the middle of March for his 2021 debut and has maintained he would be full-go by Opening Day. It’s a sentiment Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has continued to express as well.
“It’s progressing really well. He’s participating in all the fundamentals and all that stuff on the defensive side, baserunning, taking batting practice on the field now,” Roberts said this week
“Not sure when he’s going to get into some live situations with a pitcher, then to get into a game. But right now it’s tracking really well. As he’s stated, I’ve stated, I expect him to be ready for Opening Day, and that still remains the case.”
Bellinger abandoning home run celebration
In his first home run after dislocating what had been somewhat of a troublesome right shoulder, Bellinger celebrated with teammates by doing a toe tap. He has repeatedly said the forearm bash that caused the dislocated shoulder would no longer be a celebration he participates in.
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