Cody Bellinger hit just one home run as a 6-foot-4 high school senior before the Dodgers drafted him and rebuilt his swing’s load phase to unlock power. He debuted in 2017, set a rookie home run pace record, and won NL Rookie of the Year, then took the 2019 NL MVP.

This deep dive follows a nonlinear career: a shoulder dislocated in a 2020 playoff celebration, a cascade of freak injuries, a .165 collapse, a non-tender by the Dodgers, and a Chicago Cubs resurrection leading to a blockbuster Yankees deal in 2026.

• Won NL Rookie of the Year unanimously in 2017 with 39 home runs
• Captured the 2019 NL MVP with 47 homers and a Gold Glove
• Dislocated his shoulder celebrating a 2020 NLCS home run
• Won 2023 NL Comeback Player of the Year with the Chicago Cubs
• Signed a five-year, 162.5 million dollar Yankees deal after opting out in 2026