Belli cherishes memories of playing for Dodgers

LOS ANGELES -- Cody Bellinger is familiar with the ride to Dodger Stadium. It’s a trip he’s made since becoming a full-time Major Leaguer in 2017. But for the first time Friday, Bellinger was in the visiting dugout and wearing a different shade of blue.

Instead of wearing No. 35, Bellinger was sporting a No. 24 Cubs jersey. And in the end, Bellinger was celebrating with the rest of his new teammates in the Cubs’ 8-2 win over the Dodgers.

“Lots of good memories [at Dodger Stadium], except I came in from the other side today,” Bellinger said with a smile before going 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored. “It’s good to be back. I’m excited to see the guys after this and kind of mess around.”

Before the game, Bellinger received a standing ovation as he stood down the first-base line while a tribute video played throughout the stadium.

“It was really good, really cool. Got super emotional during it,” Bellinger said after the game. “It just brought back a lot of memories that I remembered. It was a good ovation, and I really just tried to soak in that moment the best I could.”

After a dream start to his career, Bellinger’s legacy in Los Angeles became a bit more complicated. Bellinger quickly became the talk of the town, winning National League Rookie of the Year after hitting 39 homers in '17. Two seasons later, Bellinger took yet another step to stardom, hitting 47 homers and edging Christian Yelich for NL MVP.

In just three seasons, Bellinger was in the discussion to be the face of MLB. With a charming personality and impressive skill at the plate and defensively, Bellinger was on the cover of magazines and was plastered all over commercials and ads.

As good as his first three seasons were, his final three seasons in Los Angeles were just as head-scratching. Bellinger underwent significant right shoulder surgery following the '20 season. In '21, Bellinger hit a low point in his career, posting a .542 OPS, which was among the worst in the league. In just two seasons, Bellinger had gone from the MVP to almost unplayable in the batter’s box.

Because of those struggles, the Dodgers ultimately decided to non-tender the former MVP in November, a move that seemed impossible just a few years ago. In his first time back in Los Angeles, Bellinger said he didn’t want to think about the business side of that decision and just wanted to relish the moments he had as a Dodger.

“I think when I knew I wasn’t coming back here, it hit me how many amazing memories I had,” Bellinger said. “My younger self would be really proud of me. A lot of good memories in this field and you know, the fans showed me nothing but love for six, seven years. I’m excited to roam center field again. It should be pretty fun. I’m excited.”

Once Bellinger became a free agent, there was still some interest from the Dodgers to bring him back at a cheaper price. The likelihood of a reunion happening was slim right away, however, as more than a dozen teams showed interest in the former MVP.

Bellinger said the reality sank in once he watched the tribute video released by the Dodgers’ social media once he signed with the Cubs. But what exactly went wrong during Bellinger’s time in Los Angeles? It’s a question nobody has been able to find an answer for.

“I think the injury had something to do with it,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “I think Cody’s got to take some responsibility for it. I think us as coaches have to take responsibility for it. And sometimes maybe a different voice kind of unlocks some things in him because you can’t debate the skillset or the talent.”

Through three years, it seemed like Bellinger was destined to be a Dodger for the rest of his career. Instead, his time in Los Angeles was cut short.

“At one point, for sure, you know?” Bellinger said, when asked if he thought he would be a Dodger for the rest of his career. "But life is not always planned. … God works in mysterious ways. I just try to be in the moment and appreciate what comes next.”