Former Dodgers Fan Favorite Wins Comeback Player of the Year Award in First Year Out of LA
Old friend Cody Bellinger won the 2023 NL Comeback Player of the Year Award. The former Dodger took home the award after an incredible season with the Cubs, his first away from LA.
The Rise
Belli made his MLB debut at 21 as a primary first baseman with the Dodgers back in 2017. He tore through the league hitting .267/.352/.933 with 39(!) home runs as a rookie. Not only did this performance earn him a spot in the All-Star Game, but he gained MVP votes on his way to winning NL Rookie of the Year.
Fast-forward two years and Bellinger literally could not be stopped. He transitioned into right field where he had arguably one of the best statistical seasons of all time. He hit a career-high 47 home runs, had a season OPS of 1.035, earned his second All-Star nod, and then took home all the hardware. In 2019, at the age of 23, he won a Silver Slugger, Gold Glove, and NL MVP.
It looked like the Dodgers had a superstar center fielder for years to come.
The Fall
2020 brought Los Angeles its first World Series title since 1988, and Bellinger played a massive role in this venture. In the NLDS he robbed Fernando Tatis Jr. of a home run in the 7th inning that would have given the Padres the lead. In game seven of the NLCS, Cody hit a go-ahead home run against the Braves in the 7th inning. Unfortunately, that came with consequences.
After hitting a tank to right field, Cody and Kiké celebrated as they always had - a forearm shiver. That forearm shiver subluxated Bellinger's right shoulder, a somewhat recurring injury for him. In a valiant effort, he played through the rest of the playoffs with the injury, but would not be the same in a Dodgers uniform.
In the two years that followed Bellinger was a shell of himself offensively. He still made highlight-reel grabs, but never seemed to find himself at the plate. He had a .193 batting average, an OPS of .611, and only 29 home runs over those two years.
In his final year of arbitration, due around $17MM, the dollars non-tendered the former MVP. He signed a one-year prove-it deal with the Chicago Cubs that had a mutual option for a second season.
The Return
The friendly confines of Wrigley Field welcomed Bellinger with open arms hoping he could regain some of his former glory. Switching from #35 to #24 in Chicago, Belli would repay that hope with a phenomenal season.
Providing elite defense in center field, and occasionally first base, Bellinger went back to crushing balls with impunity. He slashed .307/.356/.881 on the year - all highs since his MVP season. Cody treated Chicago to 26 Belli-bombs, tied his career-high in RBI (97), and stole a career-high 20 bags just for good measure. Cody Bellinger proved all he could and more in his one season with the Cubs.
Going from the peak of baseball, the precipitous fall, and back earned him the NL Comeback Player of the Year Award.
