Los Angeles Dodgers rookie Cody Bellinger finished tied with New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez for most home runs (19) in his first 50 career games. Bellinger went 1-for-5 with a double in his quest on Sunday to make MLB history.
Sanchez broke the record last season, which was previously held by Wally Berger, who hit 18 home runs with the Boston Braves in 1930. Bellinger was slow out of the gate with the Dodgers, but earned National League Rookie of the Week honors after his first full week with the team.
The 21-year-old went on to earn NL Rookie of the Month honors for May.
While Bellinger failed to slug a home run on Sunday, he has seven in the past eight games. During that span, he hit at least one home run in three consecutive games and put together back-to-back multi-home run games.
That included hitting the first homer Cleveland Indians reliever Andrew Miller allowed this season.
Bellinger joined Mike Piazza (1993) and Corey Seager (2016) as the only Dodgers rookies to have at least four multi-home run games. Piazza holds the edge with five such performances during his first season in the Majors.
Bellinger is currently tied for second in the NL in home runs. Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Eric Thames leads the league with 20 home runs.
