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Dodgers: Cody Bellinger back issue leads to AJ Pollock swap

ByAdam Weinrib|
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 23: Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after striking out against the Tampa Bay Rays during the fifth inning in Game Three of the 2020 MLB World Series at Globe Life Field on October 23, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 23: Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after striking out against the Tampa Bay Rays during the fifth inning in Game Three of the 2020 MLB World Series at Globe Life Field on October 23, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Dodgers center fielder Cody Bellinger switched to DH on Saturday for Game 4 of the World Series due to a back issue.

It’s quite obvious that star Dodgers slugger Cody Bellinger has not been operating at 100% since popping out his trick shoulder on his series-winning home run celebration in the NLCS — which makes his Game 1 home run in this series all the more impressive.

While Bellinger swears this type of thing happens all the time and his shoulder was feeling healed up by the time the celebration commenced later on Sunday night, he’s now being nagged by the type of issue that doesn’t go away overnight.

Belli’s back is barking, which forced a last-minute swap on Saturday. He abdicated his role in center field, handed it off to AJ Pollock, and slunk into the DH spot for Game 4 against soft-tossing Rays lefty Ryan Yarbrough.

Of course, the shoulder issue and the back tightness that flared up overnight are separate issues entirely. But, if nothing else, they prove that Bellinger has been fighting through a growing list of concerns to give his team all he can during an inspired run.

According to the man himself, he can swing without pain, and is likely facing the repercussions of playing an endless string of games on this unforgiving turf. Also, you may recall him banging into the wall several times to orchestrate impressive robberies. That adds up.

For those who’d like to see the shoulder pop out once again, though, we’ve provided it below.

https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1318191186759372804?s=20

If you’re strong enough to do that, you’re certainly doing something right in the weight room. But perhaps we avoid this celebration in the future.

This is Pollock’s time to shine, too, as well as his first postseason start in center field — he hit 16 home runs in a comeback 2020 season, justifying his free agent contract and then some. Justin Turner took a bit of the pressure off with another first-inning home run, so hopefully that absolves Pollock of some of his responsibility. Just do your thing.

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