BOSTON — Because the Yankees tried to pad their lead within the ninth inning on Saturday, Cody Bellinger delivered one of many workforce’s most spectacular at-bats this season.
With Aaron Decide on second and fellow lefty Aroldis Chapman on the mound, Bellinger received a nine-pitch at-bat with an RBI double. The 2-bagger, pushed off The Inexperienced Monster after 4 foul balls, gave the Yankees an additional run of their 5-3, series-winning victory over the Purple Sox.
“If you look at all the swings, he’s on everything,” Aaron Boone mentioned. “He’s fouling pitches off. It’s full swing. It’s not just like battling and touching it and extending the at-bat and getting a mistake. It’s been impressive what he’s done against lefties.”
Bellinger, who took a 1.031 OPS in opposition to southpaws into Sunday’s sequence finale, mentioned he was “just trying to pass the baton” after getting a maintain of a 96.9-mph fastball from Chapman, baseball’s high nearer this season. He went on to say that he was merely attempting to get a “red-hot” Jazz Chisholm Jr., ready on deck, as much as bat, because the second baseman already had three RBI and a house run within the sport.
But it was the at-bat from Bellinger, who additionally drove in a run with a first-inning sac fly, that commanded probably the most consideration postgame.
“That was sick,” mentioned Chisholm, who has at all times dreamed of getting a success off Chapman. “I want to hit his fastball, which is one of the best ever.”
“He’s been one of, if not the, best relievers in baseball,” Max Fried added. “Left on left, that’s not an easy thing to do. [Chapman’s] throwing 100 and a couple of really good secondary pitches. [Bellinger] did what he did the whole entire year, which is put together a good at-bat and hit a ball off The Monster in a really big spot for us.”
All 9 pitches from Cody Bellinger’s at bat in opposition to Aroldis Chapman pic.twitter.com/IlQUDvL9sH
As Fried famous, Bellinger has been a drive all through his first season with the Yankees.
Acquired from the Cubs for Cody Poteet after the Yankees misplaced the Juan Soto sweepstakes to the Mets, Bellinger began off sluggish in April. However the former MVP wakened Sunday with a .278/.334/.500 slash line, 28 house runs, 93 RBI, 11 stolen bases and a 129 wRC+ over 138 video games.
Capable of tailor his strategy to the scenario, Bellinger has proven he can fluctuate between slugging the ball, slapping it, and easily placing it in play when wanted.
“He can shorten up and go the other way, or he can take you deep pull side,” Fried mentioned of the menace Bellinger poses. “He’s two different types of hitters, and you just gotta make pitches and hope he gets himself out.”
Bellinger has additionally introduced defensive prowess and flexibility, totaling 5 Outs Above Common whereas taking part in all three outfield spots, in addition to a number of innings at first base.
Pretty much as good as Bellinger has been on the plate, his flexibility has been a speaking level for Boone all season.
“I expected a lot, so he’s certainly delivered,” the supervisor mentioned. “It’s been fun to watch him every day to see his athleticism and his true defensive versatility. It’s one thing to talk about it; it’s real. And then his athleticism on the bases, how fast he is and how good he’s been against left-handed pitching this year. We felt like the power would play in our ballpark. It certainly has. But he’s been a great player.”
Aaron Decide, in the meantime, known as Bellinger “underrated” after his teammate picked up a ribbie in Friday’s win.
“I don’t think he gets enough credit for what he does for this team,” Decide continued.
The query now — or not less than the one that’s coming quickly — is how for much longer Bellinger will do all he does for the Yankees.
The 30-year-old has a $25 million participant possibility for 2026, however the expectation is that Bellinger, a Scott Boras shopper, will choose out and change into a free agent.
On Friday, Brian Cashman declined to touch upon Bellinger’s future, which ought to embody a multi-year deal. Nonetheless, the overall supervisor did reward Bellinger for his contributions this season.
“He’s a hell of a player on both sides of the ball,” Cashman mentioned. “He’s been a positive addition. He really has, so I’m glad we were able to run into him this offseason when we did. He’s really helped lengthen our lineup and improve our defense in a big way.”
Whereas the Yankees produce other outfield selections to make — Trent Grisham can be headed free of charge company, whereas Jasson Domínguez and Spencer Jones are younger, low cost elements — it wouldn’t be a shock to see Bellinger stick round.
Cashman, quoting Boras, has mentioned that Bellinger needed to put on pinstripes earlier than this season. Now that he’s, the son of former Yankees utilityman Clay Bellinger appears comfy on and off the sphere.
Bellinger’s choice is to concentrate on the current, however he hasn’t shied away from the truth that he’s quite cozy in a Yankees uniform.
“It’s been really fun. I’m enjoying it,” he mentioned earlier than shifting his focus to a matter extra urgent than his impending offseason decisions. “Anytime that you can get meaningful games in September, that’s really all you can ask for, right? We’re all here for one goal, and so are a lot of other teams in this league, so we just focus on ourselves in here and continue to try and play our best baseball.”
