Cody Bellinger has been around big league ball his whole life. His dad Clay played in the majors. He himself played in the Little League World Series. So when someone asked him before Tuesday’s All-Star Game which player he pretended to be while smacking wiffle balls in the backyard, he had a real answer.
Jeff Bagwell.
That’s the Hall of Famer Bellinger said he tried to copy, according to a clip posted by the account realshelfy. Specifically the stance. Bagwell had that wide, crouched setup where he looked like he was about to unload on anything close. Bellinger said it was the stance that clicked for him as a kid.
It’s an interesting pick for a few reasons. Bagwell never played an inning for anyone but the Astros. He won an MVP in 1994, hit 449 home runs and finished with a .948 OPS. But here’s the odd part: Bagwell batted right-handed. Bellinger swings left. So the kid was mirroring a righty stance from the other side of the box, which is not exactly standard practice.
Then again, maybe it worked. Bellinger is a former MVP himself. He won it with the Dodgers in 2019 at age 24, then dealt with injuries and inconsistency for a few years before bouncing back with the Cubs and eventually landing with the Yankees this season. Now he’s 31 and back in the All-Star Game for the third time. First time since that MVP year.
Through 94 games he’s hitting .254 with a .345 on-base percentage and 11 home runs. Also 19 doubles, three triples and 10 steals. Those aren’t prime Bellinger numbers from 2019, but they’re solid. Especially for a guy who wasn’t sure where his career was headed a couple years ago.
The Yankees have been in a weird spot lately. They started hot, then hit a rough stretch that made people question whether this team was actually legit or just lucky early. Bellinger has been one of the steadier pieces in the lineup. Not spectacular, but consistent. That matters on a roster that sometimes feels like it’s either hitting home runs or striking out.
He’ll be in the outfield for the American League on Tuesday night at Globe Life Field. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. Eastern. Whether he takes a Bagwell-style hack or not, he earned the spot.
Leave a Comment