By Mitch Chortkoff
Sports Editor
Last season 23-year-old Corey Seager was the National League Rookie of the Year.
This season 21-year-old Cody Bellinger is well on his way to being the second straight Dodger to win that award.
It’s easy to see that the Dodgers have the heart of their batting lineup for what appears to be many seasons.
The other half of the story is that these kids are carrying the team’s offense already.
Bellinger has hit 24 home runs and has 55 RBI in 57 games. Don’t forget he didn’t start the season with the Dodgers and didn’t make his debut until April 25.
‘Crazy,’ he says. That’s a word he uses often.
For awhile I thought this newspaper had a good local story because I was told Bellinger had gone to Hamilton High. But I learned it was Hamilton High in Scottsdale Arizona.
Oh, well, it’s still a good story for Dodger fans.
Before missing a few games with a hamstring injury Seager had hit .426 with 14 RBI in his previous 13 games. His season-long batting average is .298.
My mind has wandered back to the ‘90s when Steve Garvey, Ron Cey and Mike Piazza arrived as Dodgers.
Bellinger recently had his sixth multi-home run game of the season, breaking Piazza’s record of five for a Dodger rookie.
What’s amazing is the Dodgers thought they were in good shape with youngsters supplying the power. namely Joc Pederson and Yasiel Puig. They still contribute but not as often.
And of course Adrian Gonzalez contributes a lot to the offense too and Yosmani Grandal’s home runs are real helpful.
Manager Dave Roberts appreciates Bellinger’s versatility as a hitter.
”There’s a lot he can do to help us win,” said Roberts. “It’s not always a home run. He can get a single when we need it, sometimes a walk.”
The Dodgers hit 50 home runs in June, a club record for that many in any month.
Bellinger led the way with 13.
Seager and Bellinger have made the National League all-star team for the game on Tuesday.July 11.
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