With his father pitching to him, Scottsdale native and Chandler Hamilton High School grad Cody Bellinger put on a show at Monday's Home Run Derby in Miami.
The 21-year-old Los Angeles Dodgers rookie pulled out a last-second win over the Rockies' Charlie Blackmon in a dramatic opening round, as his father Clay Bellinger, a former Yankees outfielder and a firefighter at Gilbert Fire & Rescue, threw to him. Clay Bellinger's coworkers watched from the station as Cody hit 15 home runs in the first round. The final homer came with the clock winding down.
Cody came up short in the semifinals against Yankees slugger and fellow rookie Aaron Judge, who went on to win the Derby. But consider this: Cody's 15 home runs in Round 1 were more than his father hit during his entire four-year career in the majors (12).
Much love old man pic.twitter.com/k06vN9j4Pq
— CodyBellinger (@Cody_Bellinger) July 11, 2017
Also congrats @TheJudge44 you hit balls really far
— CodyBellinger (@Cody_Bellinger) July 11, 2017
Bellinger has set a number of rookie MLB and team home run records this season, despite beginning the season in the minors. He's one of the main reasons the Dodgers have a 7.5-game lead over the Diamondbacks for first place in the National League West division.
