For his various and prolific accomplishments in what’s been less than three months time in the Majors, Cody Bellinger may have topped them all by hitting for the cycle in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 7-1 win over the Miami Marlins on Saturday.
Bellinger became the first Dodgers rookie to hit for the cycle, the youngest National League player at 22 years and two days old to accomplish the feat since Cesar Cedeno in 1972, and the seventh-youngest player all-time. The cycle was the 10th in Dodgers franchise history; seven came during their time in Brooklyn.
The last Dodgers player to hit for the cycle was Orlando Hudson against the San Francisco Giants in the 2009 home opener. Bellinger and Hudson are joined in Los Angeles franchise lore by Wes Parker (1970).
Batting cleanup against Jose Urena, Bellinger began his night with a base hit in the first inning. He broke a scoreless tie with a two-out, three-run home run in the third inning.
The homer was Bellinger’s 26th this season, which is tied for the NL lead and third-most overall. His RBI double in the fourth extended the Dodgers’ lead to 6-0. Bellinger next stepped into the batter’s box to lead off the seventh inning, needing a triple to make history.
He swung at the first offering from Nick Wittgren, roping a line drive to the right-center field gap. Giancarlo Stanton didn’t take the best route but still appeared to have a beat on the ball. Stanton reached up to make the catch, only to come up empty.
The ball rolled to the wall and Bellinger raced around the basepaths, sliding into third base even though he had a stand-up triple. “Every time he steps on the field, something special can happen,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters.
In hitting for the cycle Bellinger also put together his first career four-hit game. The cycle was a first for Bellinger at any level.
