NEW YORK — Cody Bellinger won a World Series title at old Yankee Stadium.
This was back when his father Clay was part of the 1999 and 2000 champions.
“I have little memories like the game room, the kids playroom that I went to during games,” Cody said Thursday, two days later New York acquired him from the Chicago Cubs. “My mom did a great job with the camcorder and so we would watch reruns growing up, and then it kind of helps me remember what we were doing there when I was 5 or 6.”
He also has memories of his dad in the minors.
“I was the bat boy,” Cody said. “It was always really, really cool for me to be able to run out onto the field and pick up the players’ bats and fuck their batting practice.”
Bellinger plans to play the outfield or first base with the Yankees, who are reorganizing after the loss to Juan Soto against the Mets. Left-hander Max Fried added to starting rotation And Bring Devin Williams closer to the bullpen.
Clay Bellinger was an outfielder and infielder for the Yankees from 1999 to 2001, then finished his big league career with the Anaheim Angels in 2002. In Game 2 of the 2000 World Series, he caught Todd Zeile’s drive off Mariano Rivera at the top of the left field wall.
“It’s really wild. When I heard the news, I called him and he was very excited,” Cody said of his father. “He plays it all cool. But I know deep down he’s really excited.
Cody won the 2019 NL MVP award with the Los Angeles Dodgers after hitting .305 with 47 home runs, 115 RBIs and a 1.035 OPS.
He followed that up with three straight mediocre seasons, missing time in 2021 with calf, hamstring and rib injuries. He was cut after the 2022 season and signed a $17.5 million, one-year contract with the Cubs.
Bellinger hit a career-high .307 with 29 homers and 97 RBIs, became a free agent again and signed a three-year, $80 million contract with the Cubs in late February that allowed him to opt out after 2024 and 25.
He hit .266 with 18 homers and 78 RBIs in 130 games this year, missing time with a broken right rib. The Cubs traded the 29-year-old with $52.5 million remaining on the contract and agreed to pay the Yankees $5 million.
If the Yankees acquire a first baseman, they could line Bellinger in center with Aaron Judge in right and Jasson Domínguez in left or put Domínguez in center and Bellinger in left.
Bellinger learned how to stay sharp at multiple positions from former Dodgers teammate Kiké Hernández and told manager Aaron Boone he was flexible.
“I told him that wherever you need me, I will play, whether it is on the left or in the center. If Judge gets a DH day, I’ll play okay, or if you need me at first base, I’ll play first,” he said. “I like doing this kind of thing. I think it helps the teams I’m on win.
A left-handed hitter, Bellinger could benefit from the small porch of Yankee Stadium. New York has 87 games with those dimensions because the Tampa Bay Rays will play home games at Steinbrenner Field, the Yankees’ spring training site.
Bellinger has only played three games in the Bronx, going 3 for 10 with a home run off Carlos Rodón in July 2023 that landed in the second deck in right field.
“It really excites me,” he said.
