MLB Power Rankings: Top 25 players under 25

ANAHEIM, CA - MAY 17: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) hits a fly ball to left field for an out in the fourth inning of a game against the Tampa Bay Rays played on May 17, 2018 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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MIAMI, FL – MAY 15: Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers rounds first base after hitting a home run in the ninth inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on May 15, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images) /

9. Cody Bellinger

The sophomore season for Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Cody Bellinger has not been a continued victory lap from his 2017 rookie season. Last year’s NL Rookie of the Year has hit a respectable .270/.330/.478 this year with six home runs and 19 RBI through his first 42 games. Bellinger broke the National League’s rookie homer record with 39 in 132 games.

Last year, Bellinger was the spark the Dodgers needed after a slow start. The team went 91-41 with him in the lineup, but the magic began fizzling out down the stretch and into the World Series, where the 22-year-old struck out 17 times in 29 plate appearances. Bellinger came into the league and nearly matched Aaron Judge hit-for-hit for a little over a month, but hit only .258/.347/.562 with 138 strikeouts over his final 500 plate appearances.

There is still a lot of swing-and-miss to Bellinger’s game, and his home runs have not been coming early this year. The rest of the Dodgers lineup has not provided much protection as the team slumps to the bottom of the National League. Bellinger has still been one of the best hitters on the team, but there will be continued growing pains for him this year.

It is important to remember that Bellinger is still very young and effectively made the jump straight from Double-A to the big leagues last year. He does not profile as a high-average hitter, but should settle in and grow into a consistent 40-homer threat with high on-base percentage.

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