Bellinger resurrection doesn’t hurt the Dodgers…20-20 candidate for less than a billion dollars a year surges
The last MVP the Los Angeles Dodgers produced was none other than Cody Bellinger, 29. Bellinger won the National League MVP in 2019 after batting .305 with a .406 on-base percentage, .629 slugging percentage, and 1.035 OPS, along with 47 home runs, 115 RBI, and 15 doubles.
But that would be the end of Bellinger’s happiness with the Dodgers. Bellinger has been in a slump ever since, and last year was a disaster, with a .210 batting average, .265 on-base percentage, .389 slugging percentage, and .654 OPS, along with 19 home runs, 68 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases. Eventually, the Dodgers chose to part ways with Bellinger, releasing him as a non-tender.
Forced to become a “free agent,” Bellinger found a new home with the Chicago Cubs and turned his baseball career around this year, batting .328 with a .379 on-base percentage, .556 slugging percentage, and .935 OPS, along with 18 home runs, 59 RBIs, and 17 doubles. 먹튀검증
A stomach-churning situation for the Dodgers. However, the Dodgers have been able to fill Bellinger’s shoes perfectly with the emergence of a late-round rookie. Enter James Outman, 26, who has established himself as the Dodgers’ new starting outfielder this year.
Outman saw his first big league action last year and showed promise in four games, batting .462 with a .563 on-base percentage, .846 slugging percentage, and 1.409 OPS with one home run and three RBIs. His salary this year is just $725,000. However, the outfielder has exceeded expectations in 110 games this season, hitting .257 with a .360 on-base percentage, .436 slugging percentage, and .796 OPS, along with 14 home runs, 51 RBI, and 14 doubles. At this rate, he’s on pace to join the 20-homer, 20-steal club.
MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball, highlighted 10 rookies who have shown remarkable growth on Saturday, and Outman’s name was among them.
“Outman appeared to have no place on the Dodgers’ opening day roster this year, but he carved out a spot for himself with a strong showing in spring training, and his late-season accomplishments paid off when he was named the National League Rookie of the Month in April,” MLB.com wrote. “After struggling in May and June, Outman rebounded in July and has proven to be a valuable addition at the plate and on defense.”
Outman made his mark on the Dodgers bench in exhibition games this year, batting .283 with a .391 on-base percentage, .566 slugging percentage, and .957 OPS with three home runs, 11 RBIs, and one stolen base, and in April alone, he exploded for a .289 batting average, .366 on-base percentage, .600 slugging percentage, and .966 OPS with six home runs, 18 RBIs, and four stolen bases, earning National League Rookie of the Month honors.
“Only Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts have gotten more plate appearances than Outman this year,” MLB.com noted, explaining that Outman has now fully earned his spot in the Dodgers’ outfield. The fact that he has the most at-bats behind Betts and Freeman, who are the table-setters in the Dodgers’ lineup, speaks volumes about his importance. Although Bellinger’s resurgence came after he left the Dodgers, there’s no reason for the Dodgers to have a stomachache with a growing outfield.