After having a career year and leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to a franchise-record 106-win season, All-Star Cody Bellinger was rewarded by winning the National League MVP award over the likes of Christian Yelich and Anthony Rendon.
Part of what made Bellinger’s 2019 season so special and MVP-worthy was his contributions on the defensive side of the ball in addition to batting .305/.406/.629 with 121 runs scored, 47 home runs and 115 RBI.
Bellinger made the switch to right field in 2019 for the first time in his career, and while he also saw action at first base and center field, he was recognized for his outstanding play in the corner spot by winning his first career Gold Glove Award.
One of the plays he made in right field was as, if not more, impressive than the rest, and that is why it came in at No. 4 in DodgerBlue.com’s ranking of the top moments from his 2019 MVP season.
This is fine. Everything is fine. pic.twitter.com/oCsgfwUKGb
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 12, 2019
The highlight came on May 12 in the series finale of a four-game series between the Dodgers and Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers needed a win to salvage a series split, and they turned to Cy Young-candidate Hyun-Jin Ryu to do so.
Ryu proceeded to turn in one of his best performances of the season, tossing eight shutout innings while allowing just one hit with nine strikeouts and one walk in the Dodgers’ 6-0 victory.
The southpaw carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning, although that would not have happened if it were not for a spectacular play by Bellinger in right field. With one out in the sixth, Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg stepped to the plate looking to help out his own cause in a 2-0 game.
He had a solid at-bat against Ryu and on the eighth pitch, he slashed what looked to be a line-drive single to right. Bellinger had other ideas though as he charged the ball hard and came up throwing, firing a perfect strike to first base to nail Strasburg and keep Ryu’s no-hit bid alive.
If Bellinger did not make that play then the Nationals would have had the top of their order coming up with the tying run on base. Instead, Ryu kept the shutout alive and the offense scored more runs late to complete the victory.
Bellinger also had a solid day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a double, walk and two runs scored.
Best Cody Bellinger Plays From 2019 NL MVP Season
No. 5: Defensive play helps seal win against San Francisco Giants
No. 6: Catches to rob Atlanta Braves’ Ronald Acuña Jr.
No. 7: Grand slam off Madison Bumgarner
No. 8: Throwing out Brandon Crawford and setting MLB record in same game against San Francisco Giants
No. 9: First multi-home run game of the season
No. 10: Home run on bobblehead night
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