NL MVP race heats up with these four players making their case
By CJ Luther
2019 NL MVP Race
Cody Bellinger, Los Angeles Dodgers
Coming into 2019 with a revamped swing and a new approach to his game, Cody Bellinger has announced himself as one of baseball’s premier superstars. He began the season on an absolute tear, slashing .379/.465/.749 through May.
While that level of production is somewhat unsustainable, Bellinger has continued to produce at a high level, sitting at .308/.412/.651 with 44 HR and 104 RBI at the time of this writing.
Bellinger is no stranger to the spotlight, as he won the 2017 NL Rookie of the Year Award after posting a .933 OPS and breaking the NL rookie home run record with 39 HR. He regressed a bit in his sophomore season, hitting .260/.343/.470 with 25 homers in 2018. He entered that offseason on a mission to improve, with a plan that has paid off in spades this season.
The Dodgers’ outfielder has made significant strides in improving upon his plate discipline. In 2019, Bellinger has increased his BB% by 3.8%, while simultaneously cutting his KK% by an NL-best 7.8%. His improved patience at the plate has allowed him to connect on more pitches he can drive, evidenced by both a 10.5% jump in hard-hit percentage and 7.3% increase in line-drive percentage.
Bellinger has also been one of the league’s top defenders, ranking as the sixth-best in the NL in outs above average, in addition to an NL-best 19 defensive runs saved. Toss in above-average speed on the base paths, and Bellinger has displayed MVP-level production in virtually every area of his game this season.
He’s also the offensive engine powering the juggernaut that is the 2019 Los Angeles Dodgers. The team has locked up the NL West and are heavy favorites to win the NL pennant. The best player on the league’s best team, Cody Bellinger has done everything possible to deserve the NL MVP.