Bellinger looking forward to fresh start after joining Cubs
CHICAGO (AP) — Cody Bellinger is trying ahead to a recent begin with the Chicago Cubs and exhibiting he can once more be a productive hitter.
He went from successful the NL MVP with the Dodgers in 2019 to being lower by Los Angeles in November. The years in between have been marked by accidents and plummeting manufacturing.
“It’s tough,” he mentioned Tuesday. “I’m not going to lie. But I think at the end of it all, I’m going to look back and be appreciative that it happened and going to be able to learn from it. I have learned from it. I think it’s going to be better for the longevity of my career.”
He will get an opportunity to show it with the Cubs, after agreeing to a $17.5 million, one-year contract three weeks in the past, a deal finalized final Wednesday.
“I think I just wanted to go out and find a place where I felt comfortable,” Bellinger mentioned. “Also an environment that is exciting, that has a good baseball environment. We thought it was a great fit. I’m going to just play baseball on a good team in a cool place and I’m very excited about that.”
The Cubs hope he can expertise a little bit of a resurgence on the plate whereas giving them an elite glove in middle subject as they attempt to climb again towards competition. They completed third within the NL Central at 74-88. It was their second straight shedding season after making the playoffs 5 of the earlier six years, however they went 40-31 of their remaining 71 video games.
The cope with Bellinger is amongst three main strikes by the Cubs for the reason that finish of the season, the most important coming final week once they agreed to a $177 million, seven-year contract with All-Star shortstop Dansby Swanson that continues to be pending. The Cubs additionally signed right-hander Jameson Taillon to a four-year contract that’s value roughly $68 million.
“It’s very exciting,” Bellinger mentioned. “When I met with them, they said that they’re looking to continue. I didn’t know exactly what that meant. It just goes to show they want to give fans some excitement.”
Bellinger was thrilled when the Cubs landed Swanson.
His addition doubtless means Nico Hoerner strikes to second base. With Bellinger in middle, the Cubs determine to be as sturdy as any group within the majors on the subject of protection up the center.
“I’ve played against Dansby a lot — in a lot of playoff series as well,” he said. “He’s an incredible player, a good person, a great teammate. He’s going to bring a lot to this team. I think it’s a very, very good sign, and I’m excited to play alongside with him.”
Bellinger has battled accidents since his MVP season, together with having surgical procedure on his proper shoulder in November 2020. Before the drop-off, he was the 2017 NL Rookie of the Year and 2018 National League Championship Series MVP. He made two All-Star groups and received a Gold Glove in 2019.
Bellinger was lower by the Dodgers on Nov. 18 after hitting .210 with 19 homers, 150 strikeouts and a .654 OPS in 144 video games.
He was restricted to 95 video games in the course of the 2021 common season when he was on the injured listing thrice and batted .165. He hit .353 in 12 video games in that postseason and had the go-ahead RBI single in Game 5 of the NL Division Series in opposition to the rival San Francisco Giants. Bellinger additionally had a tying, three-run homer in opposition to Atlanta in Game 3 of the NL Championship Series.
In 2020, Bellinger hit .239 with 12 house runs in 56 video games in the course of the pandemic-shortened season. He homered thrice within the NLCS, and the Dodgers beat the Braves to succeed in the World Series. They went on to defeat Tampa Bay in six video games to win the franchise’s first title since 1988.
“You can’t change the past, but you can learn from it,” Bellinger mentioned. “There were definitely injuries involved. Your body wasn’t moving how you’re used to. I can go on and on. But looking forward, where I’m at right now is I’m feeling really good and confident and strong. I’m looking forward to it.”
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