Cody Bellinger offers explanation for struggles ahead of fresh start with Cubs

Former Los Angeles Dodgers star Cody Bellinger had a rough time the past two seasons, but he seems hopeful for his start with the Chicago Cubs.

Cody Bellinger struggled a bit with the Los Angeles Dodgers over the past few seasons, and he’s offered some insight into that and shared he’s looking forward to starting fresh with the Chicago Cubs.

In Bellinger’s MLB debut in 2017, he emerged as a power hitter with a lot of potential, including winning NL MVP in 2019, which made many excited to watch his future pan out. His performance began to decline in 2020, but it wasn’t necessarily a point of concern since it was a partial season and a lot of time was missed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, it got concerning when he was still lacking in 2021 and 2022. From 2017-2019, Bellinger averaged .277/.367/.560 for an OPS of .927. Between 2021 and 2022, that drastically decreased to .187/.253/.346 for an OPS of .598. He’s not doing nearly as well as he has in the past, but there is potential for him to improve again.

Cody Bellinger isn’t a lost cause and could revive career with the Cubs

While Bellinger appears to be tanking, he’s only 27 and could very well improve. As he stated, he’s dealt with some injuries that have held him back from his fullest potential at times. While that’s not the instance for every case, he’s aware of his mistakes outside of injury and seems very willing to work on them.

Awareness is bound to help him narrow down his weakest points and address them in a way that’ll help him get back to his potential. While he could still be a bust, he deserves time with the Cubs before being considered one.

Bellinger could become a more recognizable and talented version of himself once again this season, and the Cubs could definitely benefit from that.