After a breakout 2017 campaign that earned him the National League Rookie of the Year Award, Cody Bellinger went into this season facing lofty expectations. Caution was issued over a potential sophomore slump, though Bellinger said he wasn’t concerned.
While that may hold true, Bellinger has scuttled at the plate and yet to look the same power hitter he was throughout his rookie season. Entering Saturday’s doubleheader against the Washington Nationals, Bellinger was batting .265/.331/.469 with nine doubles, three triples, six home run and 19 RBI.
He struck out swinging on a high fastball in the first inning, and was called out on strikes to lead off the third. However, that at-bat will be remembered for an odd and scary sequence before Bellinger went down looking.
After receiving a pitch from Tanner Roark, Nationals catcher Spencer Kieboom clipped Bellinger in the helmet, fortunately catching the side of it and not causing injury, via Chad Moriyama:
Bellinger laughed the matter off and immediately told the home-plate umpire and Kieboom that he was fine. In addition to finishing the at-bat, he remained in the game defensively.
While the Dodgers saw the returns of Logan Forsythe and Justin Turner, they’ve been hamstrung by a rash of injuries to key players this season. As it stands, Clayton Kershaw and Hyun-Jin Ryu remain on the disabled list, and Corey Seager is out for the rest of the year after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
