Former MVP Cody Bellinger working hard with Chicago Cubs staff to revive career after lengthy 3-year slump
It's hard to judge where Cody Bellinger ranks among MLB players. While some analysts rate him highly, others have been heavily critical of the outfielder. The 27-year-old recently signed a one-year, $17.5 million contract with the Chicago Cubs and will look to jump-start his career in the Windy City.
Despite his numbers dropping over the last two seasons, Bellinger has built an impressive resume. Since making his MLB debut in 2017, he was named the National League MVP and has been selected to the All-Star Game on two occasions.
He was part of the Los Angeles Dodgers team that won a World Series and has also won the Rookie of the Year Award and a Gold Glove Award. The player is upbeat about the upcoming season and is working hard to return to his 2019 form.
He said:
"I'm working my butt off to become the best player I possibly can become"
According to a recent article on ESPN, Bellinger is working alongside the Cubs' hitting coaches to fine-tune his game. He is healthy and optimistic about the upcoming season.
Belli goes deep! https://t.co/oLTdL7s3fl
"Belli goes deep!" - Talkin Baseball
Over his last three seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, he has been in a major slump.
In 2020, he failed to break the .240 mark. Things went from bad to worse in 2021 when he finished with an abysmal .165/.240/.302 slash line. The Dodgers decided to let him go after a .210 batting average and 150 strikeouts in 2022.
Cody Bellinger won the 2019 National League MVP after recording 47 home runs and 115 RBIs
Instead of focusing on the negative, the Cubs decided to be optimistic and take a chance on Bellinger. During his peak, he was regarded as one of the most dangerous hitters in MLB.
Cody Bellinger gets one-year, $17.5 million deal with the #Cubs. He had several multi-year offers.
"Cody Bellinger gets one-year, $17.5 million deal with the #Cubs. He had several multi-year offers." - Bob Nightengale
In 2019, he won the NL MVP award after slashing .305/.406/.629 and recording an impressive 1.035 OPS. He ranked fourth in the league with 47 home runs, behind only Pete Alonso, Eugenio Suarez and Jorge Soler. That year, he also recorded 115 RBIs, 170 hits and 15 stolen bases.
Baseball tends to have a "what have you done for me lately" approach, but Cody Bellinger's upside is there for all to see. He has proven he can do it at the highest level.
A move to a young Chicago Cubs team could be exactly what Bellinger needs to regain his confidence and revive his career.