While plenty of the talk involving Los Angeles Dodgers prospects centers around young hurlers Jose De Leon and Julio Urias, and international talent, first baseman Cody Bellinger has quickly made a name for himself.
The Dodgers selected Bellinger in the fourth round of the 2013 draft out of Hamilton High School in Arizona. He played in 47 games for the Arizona League Dodgers that year, then joined the rookie level Ogden Raptors in 2014 before more action with the AZL Dodgers.
Bellinger put together a strong campaign last season with High-A Rancho Cucamonga, batting .264/.336/.538 with 33 doubles, 30 home runs and 103 RBIs over 128 games.
He rode that success to be among the non-roster invitees to big league camp this spring, hitting hitting .393/.541/.679 (11-for-28) with two doubles, two home runs and nine walks.
However, Bellinger’s 2016 campaign got off on the wrong foot as he was placed on the disabled list with a strained hip. Bellinger debuted on April 30 and has appeared in 15 games with Double-A Tulsa.
On Sunday, Bellinger lifted the Drillers to a win in the 10th inning with a walk-off grand slam:
On the season, Bellinger is batting .179/.270/.250 (10-for-56) with one double, one home run, seven RBIs, seven walks and 16 strikeouts over 63 plate appearances.
