Expectations were sky-high for Cody Bellinger after he burst onto the scene and slugged his way to a unanimous National League Rookie of the Year Award. Bellinger and the Dodgers maintained confidence he would largely avoid succumbing to pressure or the pitfalls of a sophomore season.
Yet, there was regression at the plate. Bellinger’s home run total, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging, OPS+, wOBA and wRC+ all declined from his first season. “I think for Cody it was a tough year,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts recently acknowledged.
“I think if you look at the way that he fared against left-handed pitching this year was a little surprising to all of us, and Cody was disappointed in that.