by NEW YORK – Cody Bellinger experienced a World Series title at the old Yankee Stadium.
At the time, his father Clay was part of the 1999 and 2000 champions.
“I have little memories like the playroom, the kids’ playroom, where I went during the games,” Cody said Thursday, two days later New York acquired him from the Chicago Cubs. “My mom did a great job with the camcorder, so we used to watch reruns of it when I was a kid, and then it kind of reminds me of what we were doing out there when I was 5 or 6.”
He also has memories of his father in the minors.
“I was the bat boy,” Cody said. “For me, it was always very, very cool to be able to run onto the field, pick up players’ bats and practice their batting.”
Bellinger expects to play outfield or first base with the Yankees, who are in the process of retooling Lost to Juan Soto against the Mets. Left-hander Max Fried was added to the starting lineup And Devin Williams approaches the bullpen.
Clay Bellinger was an outfielder and infielder for the Yankees from 1999 to 2001 and finished his big league career with the Anaheim Angels in 2002. He played in the second game of the 2000 World Series Todd Zeile’s drive was caught by Mariano Rivera at the top of the left field wall.
“It’s really wild. When I got the news, I called him and he was very excited,” Cody said of his father. “He plays everything cool. But deep down I know he’s really excited.”
Cody won the 2019 NL MVP Award with the Los Angeles Dodgers after batting .305 with 47 home runs, 115 RBIs and an OPS of 1.035.
Three subpar seasons followed in a row, with him missing 2021 with calf, hamstring and rib injuries. He was Cut after the 2022 season and signed a $17.5 million, one-year deal with the Cubs.
Bellinger hit a career-high .307 with 29 home runs and 97 RBIs, became a free agent again and signed a three-year, $80 million contract with the Cubs in late February that allowed him to opt out after 2024 and 2025.
He posted a .266 batting average with 18 home runs and 78 RBIs in 130 games that year, missing time with a broken right rib. The Cubs traded the 29-year-old with $52.5 million left on his contract and agreed to pay the Yankees $5 million.
If the Yankees get a first baseman, they could line up Bellinger in center with Aaron Judge in right and Jason Domínguez in left, or place Domínguez in center and Bellinger in left.
Bellinger learned from former Dodgers teammate Kiké Hernández how to stay sharp at multiple positions and told manager Aaron Boone that he was flexible.
“I told him I’ll play wherever I’m supposed to play, whether it’s left or center. If Judge gets a DH day, I’ll play right, or if you need me at first base, I’ll play first,” he said. “I like doing it. I think it helps the teams I play on win.”
As a left-handed hitter, Bellinger could benefit from Yankee Stadium’s short porch. New York has 87 games of that magnitude, as the Tampa Bay Rays will play their home games at Steinbrenner Field, the Yankees’ spring training site.
Bellinger has played just three games in the Bronx, going 3-for-10 with a home run off Carlos Rodón in July 2023 landing in right field in the second deck.
“It definitely excites me,” he said.
