Dodgers: Cody Bellinger may participate in the Home Run Derby

The Dodgers stud rookie has been invited to the 2017 Home Run Derby, which adds to an already magical season for him.

Dodgers‘ rookie Cody Bellinger has been invited to the 2017 Home Run Derby, something that will probably divide the fan base because of the so-called Home Run Derby Curse. As the National League’s home run leader and second in all of baseball, despite missing the first three weeks of the season, it only makes sense for him to participate.

Bellinger is the fastest player to six multi-HR games (57 games) and has the most career home runs in a player’s first 57 games played. Every home he has hit seems to break a record. He is on course to become just the second Dodger rookie to hit 30+ home runs along with joining just 26 (27 because Aaron Judge will be joining soon) other rookies to hit 30+ bombs in a season. In addition, Cody has a legitimate chance of breaking Mark McGwire’s rookie record of 49 home runs.

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Like Aaron Judge, Joc Pederson, and Giancarlo Stanton, he’s the type of player you want to see in the Derby. He has an average exit velocity of 92.8 mph, which would put him tenth in baseball. The ball just flies off the bat in a special way and goes farther than most. It would be a treat to see the sweet-swinging lefty go up against the likes of Miguel Sano, Giancarlo Stanton (defending champ), and hopefully Aaron Judge, among others.

However, if his dad cannot pitch to him, he will not participate. He was quoted as saying:

"“If he can’t throw, I won’t do it,”"

If Bellinger can take part in it, it would mark the fourth straight year that a Dodger was in the Derby and would make it five out of six years, dating back to 2012. In 2012 Matt Kemp represented LA, in 2014 Yasiel Puig, 2015 Joc Pederson, and last season Corey Seager.

Puig and Kemp had Derbies to forget, while Joc came close to winning while putting on an absolute show for the crowd. Seager had an impressive display as well but was bounced in the first round.

Next: Do the Dodgers have a Home Run Problem?

Here’s hoping that we can see Cody Bellinger in the Home Run Derby on July 10th. I know it may not be a popular opinion, but Bellinger is too special to be affected by it.