TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Dodgers need Adrian Gonzalez's bat in the lineup more than anybody's this year, but when the day comes to replace the All-Star first baseman, it will probably be done by Cody Bellinger.
At 20 years old, Bellinger is younger than Corey Seager but he's batting almost 500 points higher this spring after getting three more hits off the bench in Wednesday's 13-13 tie with the Angels. Bellinger's average is an eye-popping .667 (6-for-9), and even in March that's hard to dismiss.
"The game doesn't speed up on him," said manager Dave Roberts.