BALTIMORE — Three times in his first four seasons in the majors, Cody Bellinger reached the World Series. In 2020, he was part of a Dodgers team that won the title.
He credits Clayton Kershaw — who announced Thursday he would retire following this season — as a key reason the Dodgers had so much success during that span.
“He was a big part of that team and all our teams,’’ Bellinger said before the Yankees’ 7-0 victory Thursday over the Orioles at Camden Yards. “The way he carries himself. I sat back, watched and learned: This is what it’s supposed to look like. When he took the ball every fifth day, he had a presence. He was the hardest working dude in the room. He had an unmatched work ethic.”
Bellinger, who went 0-for-3 with a two walks and two runs scored, has taken that with him in the other spots in his career, first with the Cubs, where he spent two seasons after six years in Los Angeles, and then this year, his first in The Bronx.
In the midst of his best year since his 2019 National League MVP season, Bellinger has been a crucial part of the Yankees being in position to get back to the postseason.
“This is why I wanted to come here,’’ Bellinger said of the Yankees, where he arrived in a trade from the Cubs in the offseason and has outplayed his replacement in Chicago, Kyle Tucker. “Being able to get into the playoffs is very important. It’s fun. It’s why you play the game.”
Bellinger has delivered everything the Yankees could have asked for when they shipped Cody Poteet to Chicago in exchange for the lefty-swinger after Juan Soto left for the Mets and their $765 million.
The 30-year-old Bellinger has been a fixture in the lineup, playing all three outfield positions well and also filling in at first base when needed.
And his 1.034 OPS against left-handed pitching is third-best in the majors, behind only teammates Aaron Judge and Paul Goldschmidt — both right-handed hitters.
He’s also on pace to appear in more games than in any season since ’19, when he played in 156 games.
That’s led to the most homers, RBIs and walks since 2019, as well.
But after missing the playoffs in both of his seasons in Chicago — despite solid numbers at the plate — Bellinger’s focus is just on winning games this time of year.
“To be playing meaningful games in September, that’s all you can ask for,’’ Bellinger said. “That’s something I’ve known for a long time.”
And the Yankees are set up to do even more.
“We have one goal and that’s to win the World Series,’’ said Bellinger, whose father, Clay, was part of two title-winning teams in The Bronx, in 1999 and 2000. “I know that’s the goal of a lot of teams, but I like what we have going on in this locker room. Now’s the time to prove it.”
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