Los Angeles Dodgers slugging first baseman Cody Bellinger, who won the NL Rookie of the Year Award and helped lead the Dodgers to the World Series last season, has been selected 2017 Sportsman of the Year by the Los Angeles Sports Council.
Bellinger will be honored at the 13th Annual LA Sports Awards, to be held on Tuesday, February 6 at The Beverly Hilton.
In his first season in the majors, Bellinger compiled a .267 batting average with 39 home runs and 97 RBI in 132 games.
Bellinger began the season in the minors; he made his major league debut on April 25 against the San Francisco Giants. His impact was immediate. He hit his first major league home run four days later and seemingly never stopped, belting five within his first 11 games. His season total of 39 set a new NL rookie home run record.
Bellinger was named to the All-Star Game as a reserve, and he also was chosen to compete in the Home Run Derby.
His go-ahead three-run homer in Game 5 was one of the most dramatic moments of the World Series, although the Dodgers eventually lost the game.
The LA Sports Awards are presented annually by the Sports Council to celebrate the greatest moments of the year in sports in the Los Angeles/Orange County area.
Bellinger becomes the second Dodger to win the Sportsman award, joining two-time recipient Clayton Kershaw (2011, 2014).
The ceremony also will feature the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement award to Bob Miller, plus presentations to the Sportswoman, Coach, and Sports Executive of the Year, and a countdown of 2017's Top Ten moments. The awards banquet will be televised on Fox Sports West/Prime Ticket (air dates TBA).
Recent Sportsman award honorees include Mike Trout, Clayton Kershaw, Chris Paul and Jonathan Quick.
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