Former Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Cody Bellinger heaped praise on Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw after the veteran announced his retirement at the end of the 2025 season.
Bellinger began his MLB career with the Dodgers, serving as Kershaw’s teammate from 2017-22.
“He was a big part of that team and all our teams,’’ Bellinger said. “The way he carries himself. I sat back, watched and learned: This is what it’s supposed to look like. When he took the ball every fifth day, he had a presence. He was the hardest working dude in the room. He had an unmatched work ethic.”
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The outfielder was fantastic with the Dodgers through his first few seasons, winning NL Rookie of the Year in a landslide on the back of a 39 homer season. Two years later, Bellinger won an MVP in a 47-homer season. He led the National League in bWAR that season with 8.7 while posting an OPS of 1.035.
Bellinger was also a part of the World Series winning team in 2020, during which Kershaw took over to cover Bellinger’s offensive struggles. Kershaw pitched twice during the Fall Classic in the shortened 2020 season, logging 11.2 innings while only allowing three runs to cross during that stretch. He had 14 strikeouts in his two outings.
After a couple of seasons where he hit below league average, however, the Dodgers non-tendered Bellinger, allowing him to sign with the Chicago Cubs for the 2023 season. He enjoyed a bounce back year in 2023, recording MVP votes for the first time since he won the award in 2019, and has continued to produce at an above average level away from LA.
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Now on the New York Yankees, Bellinger has a real chance to face his former team on the biggest stage this postseason in what will be his former teammate’s last dance.
Photo Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
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