Cody Bellinger facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cody Bellinger
Bellinger with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2018
New York Yankees – No. 35
Outfielder / First baseman
Born: (1995-07-13) July 13, 1995 (age 29) Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.
Bats: Left Throws: Left
debut
April 25, 2017, for the Los Angeles Dodgers
MLB statistics (through May 4, 2025)
Batting average	.257
Hits	964
Home runs	200
Runs batted in	615
Teams
Los Angeles Dodgers (2017–2022) Chicago Cubs (2023–2024) New York Yankees (2025–present)
Career highlights and awards
2× All-Star (2017, 2019) World Series champion (2020) NL MVP (2019) All-MLB First Team (2019) NL Rookie of the Year (2017) NLCS MVP (2018) Gold Glove Award (2019) 2× Silver Slugger Award (2019, 2023) NL Comeback Player of the Year (2023)

Cody James Bellinger (born July 13, 1995) is an American professional baseball player. He plays as an outfielder and first baseman for the New York Yankees in Major League Baseball (MLB). Before joining the Yankees, he played for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs.

Cody was picked by the Dodgers in the fourth round of the 2013 MLB draft. He made his big league debut in 2017. His dad, Clay Bellinger, also played in MLB. Cody even helped his Little League team reach the 2007 Little League World Series when he was just 11 years old.

Bellinger quickly became a star. He set many home run records for the Dodgers. He played in the 2017 MLB All-Star Game and the Home Run Derby. After his first season, he was named the National League (NL) Rookie of the Year. In 2018, he was the MVP of the 2018 National League Championship Series. He helped the Dodgers reach the 2018 World Series. In 2019, he won the NL MVP, Silver Slugger, and Gold Glove Awards. He also made his second All-Star team.

Cody won his first World Series title with the Dodgers in 2020. They beat the Tampa Bay Rays. After a few tough years with injuries, he signed with the Cubs. In 2023, he won the NL Comeback Player of the Year award. He was traded to the Yankees in 2024.

Early Life and High School Baseball

Cody James Bellinger was born on July 13, 1995, in Scottsdale, Arizona. His parents are Clay and Jennifer Bellinger. Cody's dad, Clay, played for the New York Yankees and Anaheim Angels. He even won two World Series titles.

Clay Bellinger also coached Cody's Little League team. In 2007, they went to the 2007 Little League World Series (LLWS). Cody was only 11, younger than most of his teammates. But he helped his team get to the LLWS by hitting for four runs batted in (RBI). His team made it to the semifinals in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

Later, Cody became a great baseball player at Hamilton High School. He was named team MVP in his junior and senior years. In his senior year, he hit .429. Even though he was tall (6 feet 4 inches), he was very thin. He only hit one home run that season. Most teams didn't want to pick him early in the draft.

Professional Baseball Career

Starting in the Minor Leagues (2013–2017)

The Los Angeles Dodgers chose Cody Bellinger in the fourth round of the 2013 MLB Draft. He was the 124th player picked overall. Cody had planned to play college baseball for the Oregon Ducks. But he decided to sign with the Dodgers instead. He got a $700,000 bonus.

He started playing in the Rookie Leagues. In 2015, he joined the Class A-Advanced Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. This was his first full year in the minor leagues. He started to get noticed for his hitting. He was one of the top home run hitters in the California League. Cody helped the Quakes win the California League championship. He was even named the MVP of the championship series. That year, he hit 30 home runs and had 103 RBIs.

In 2016, Cody started with the Double-A Tulsa Drillers. He missed some time with a hip injury. But he still hit 23 home runs and had 65 RBIs. He then moved up to the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers. He played well there too. After the season, he played in the Arizona Fall League. He was named to the All-Fall League team.

Los Angeles Dodgers (2017–2022)

Becoming a Rookie Star in 2017

Bellinger with the Dodgers in 2017

The Dodgers called Cody up to the major leagues on April 25, 2017. They needed help in the outfield. He got his first big league hit that night. A few days later, he hit his first two major league home runs. He hit his first grand slam on May 6. By May, he had hit nine home runs, tying a Dodgers rookie record. He was the fastest Dodgers rookie to hit 11 home runs.

Cody kept setting records in June. He became the fastest player in MLB history to have four games with two or more home runs. He was also the fastest player to reach 20 and then 21 home runs. He was the first rookie ever to hit 10 home runs in 10 games. He led the NL with 24 home runs by late June. He was chosen for his first Major League Baseball All-Star Game and the Home Run Derby.

On July 15, Cody made history again. He became the first Dodgers rookie to hit for the cycle. This means he hit a single, double, triple, and home run in the same game. He finished his rookie season hitting .267 with 39 home runs and 97 RBIs. His 39 home runs broke the NL rookie record. Even though the Dodgers lost the 2017 World Series, Cody won the NL Rookie of the Year Award.

NLCS MVP in 2018

Cody started the 2018 MLB season well. He hit his 40th career home run very quickly. This made him the third-fastest MLB player to reach that mark. He played in all 162 regular-season games. He hit .260 with 25 home runs and 76 RBIs.

He helped the Dodgers win their division. In the playoffs, he had some big moments. In the NLCS, he made a great jumping catch. He also hit a game-winning single in extra innings. He hit the home run that sent the Dodgers to the 2018 World Series. Because of his clutch plays, he was named the NLCS MVP. The Dodgers lost the World Series to the Boston Red Sox.

Winning NL MVP in 2019

Bellinger with the Dodgers in 2019.

Cody had an amazing start to the 2019 season. He led MLB in many stats by the end of April. He broke records for most home runs and total bases by a Dodger in April. He was named the Player of the Month for April.

By the All-Star break, he was a top candidate for the NL MVP Award. He led with 72 runs, 73 RBIs, and a .334 batting average. He was chosen for his second All-Star game. He was also a starter in the NL outfield.

On August 2, Cody hit his 100th career home run. He did it in only 401 games, breaking a Dodgers record. Two weeks later, he hit his 40th home run of the year. He was the youngest Dodger to do so.

Cody finished the 2019 season with career bests. He hit .305, with 47 home runs and 115 RBIs. He won three major awards: the NL MVP, the NL Gold Glove Award, and the NL Silver Slugger Award. He was the first Dodger to win all three in one season. He was also picked for the first-ever All-MLB First Team.

World Series Champions in 2020

Before the 2020 season, Cody signed a big contract with the Dodgers. The 2020 MLB season was shorter because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cody had a slower start to the season. He hit .239 with 12 home runs in 56 games.

The Dodgers were the first team to make the playoffs in 2020. Cody made a great defensive play in the playoffs against the Padres. He made a jumping catch to stop a two-run home run. This helped the Dodgers win the game. In the NLCS, Cody hit the home run that sent the Dodgers to the 2020 World Series.

The Dodgers then beat the Tampa Bay Rays in six games. This was Cody's first World Series championship. It was also the Dodgers' first title since 1988. Even though he hurt his shoulder during the NLCS, he kept playing in the World Series.

Injuries and Tough Seasons (2021-2022)

Cody had surgery on his right shoulder in November 2020. He had hurt it celebrating his NLCS home run. He also broke a bone in his leg in April 2021. He returned in May, but his hitting was not as strong. He later said his injuries were still bothering him. He also fractured a rib in September. He finished the 2021 season hitting a career-low .165.

Despite his injuries, Cody still made big plays in the 2021 playoffs. He had a game-winning hit in the NLDS against the Giants. He also hit a huge three-run home run in the NLCS against the Braves. This helped the Dodgers win a key game.

In 2022, Cody signed a $17 million contract. He hit .210 with 19 home runs and 68 RBIs. After the season, the Dodgers decided not to offer him a new contract. This made him a free agent.

Chicago Cubs (2023–2024)

NL Comeback Player of the Year in 2023

Bellinger with the Cubs at the 2023 MLB London Series.

On December 14, 2022, Cody signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Cubs. He had a great season with the Cubs. He was named the National League Player of the Month for July 2023. He hit eight home runs and had 24 RBIs that month. For the whole season, he hit .307 with 26 home runs and 97 RBIs. He won the NL Comeback Player of the Year award.

In November 2023, Cody chose to become a free agent again. But he re-signed with the Cubs in February 2024. He signed a three-year, $80 million contract. He finished the 2024 season hitting .266 with 18 home runs and 78 RBIs.

New York Yankees (2025–Present)

On December 17, 2024, the Cubs traded Cody Bellinger to the New York Yankees. He joined the Yankees for the 2025 season. On May 4, 2025, he hit his 200th career home run.

Batting Style

Cody Bellinger was known for his strong fielding early on. But he became a powerful hitter after changing his batting style. He worked with coaches to add a small hand and wrist movement. This helped him hit the ball with more power.

In 2018, he changed his stance again. He stood more relaxed at the plate. He also learned to be more careful about which pitches to swing at. These changes helped him hit the ball more often and with greater power. This led to his amazing MVP season in 2019.

Awards and Honors

Bellinger (left) with his father, Clay, on the red carpet for the 2019 MLB All-Star Game

Personal Life

Cody Bellinger has a younger brother named Cole. Cole was also a talented pitcher in high school. He was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 2017. Cole played in the Padres' minor league system for two seasons.

Cody has two daughters with his wife, Chase Carter. They were born in November 2021 and April 2023.

Cody is also a big fan of video games. A character in the game Assassin's Creed Valhalla was inspired by him. Cody even helped with the game by using motion capture technology. He used his own baseball bat to act out the character's movements.

Images for kids

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  Bellinger with the Tulsa Drillers in 2016.

See also

In Spanish: Cody Bellinger para niños

• List of people from Chandler, Arizona
• List of second-generation Major League Baseball players
• Los Angeles Dodgers award winners and league leaders