It’s extremely unlikely that Dodgers outfielder Cody Bellinger forearm-bashed his doctors after his surgery Tuesday. It is assumed he’s learned a valuable lesson.
The Los Angeles Dodgers star underwent a procedure to stabilize his right shoulder, which was dislocated during a home-run celebration last month when he bashed forearms with teammate Kiké Hernandez. The injury occurred during Game 7 of the National League Championship Series.
At the time, the 25-year-old Bellinger said team doctors popped it back into place “real quick.” He returned to the outfield to finish the game and then played in all six World Series contests as the Dodgers beat the Tampa Bay Rays.
Bellinger, the NL MVP in 2019, wasn’t the same in 2020. He hit .239 with 12 home runs in the 60-game regular season and wasn’t any better during the postseason (.212 with four homers and 13 RBIs), though his Gold Glove–caliber defense was a big asset.
He’ll begin rehab in Glendale, Ariz., next week, with full recovery time expected to be 10 weeks.
There could be more news, unrelated to the injury, concerning Bellinger during the next couple of months. Baseball’s offseason can become active in a hurry, and the Dodgers don’t figure to stand still after winning their first World Series title since 1988.
Bellinger, the team’s starting center fielder, is arbitration-eligible again this winter after signing a one-year, $11.5 million contract last January.
Spring training is scheduled to begin in early February, with all 30 clubs in action for Cactus and Grapefruit League games beginning on Feb. 27.
The Dodgers and the New York Yankees are the 2021 betting favorites to win their respective league titles.
Add comment