When Dodgers rookie phenom Cody Bellinger hit his 11th home run of the season on May 28, he became the fastest player in franchise history to reach that mark. In fact, since 1913, only four players in the majors have hit more home runs through the first 32 games of their careers.

Bellinger’s torrid start to his major league career has gained national attention, as it well should.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

But with that 11th home run – and another on June 2 – something else happened. Bellinger’s name began being floated around as a possible candidate to represent the Dodgers and the National League in the upcoming 2017 MLB Home Run Derby to be held on Monday, July 10, 2017 at Marlins Park in Miami as part of the annual All-Star Game festivities.

“I would consider it,” Bellinger said, when asked if would do it. “Honestly, I’m not a good BP hitter, some days are good, some days are really bad – I don’t know what it is – but I think it would be really cool if my dad would throw to me. He’s thrown to me my whole life, so that would be something I would think about. But I haven’t been asked yet, so I don’t know. To say yes, I don’t know for sure, but it’s a possibility. I think it would be really cool.”

Although the ever-humble Bellinger may think that he’s not a very good batting practice hitter, there are hundreds of Dodger fans who would disagree – including this one.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Of course, any time you mention a Dodger participating in the Home Run Derby the naysayers immediately come out of the woodwork and are frantic about how it ruins a player’s swing, a claim that may not be entirely without merit. Who can forget the 2015 Home Run Derby in which then Dodger rookie Joc Pederson made it into the final round after a spectacular showing, only to be aced out by Cincinnati Reds slugger Todd Frazier for the title. Pederson had hit a remarkable 20 home runs in the first half of the 2015 season for the Dodgers but managed only six in the second half of the season and hit a paltry .178 following his Home Run Derby appearance.

Was it Joc Pederson’s participation in the 2015 Home Run Derby that changed him from a .230 first half hitter into a .178 second half hitter, or did pitchers simply adjust to him? (Photo credit – David Kohl)

But how would the Dodgers organization feel about their star rookie participating in the Home Run Derby – if invited – knowing full well what happened to Pederson in 2015? Is this something that they would fully support?

“If it does play out like that, I would support whatever. Cody would want it,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “I think that there’s arguments both ways and I think that some guys participate and their second half goes south and some guys participate and it doesn’t affect them. Every player is different and it is the player’s decision. For some people it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and some people will choose to forego it, but whatever decision, if it does happen, I’ll support it.”

Although this ‘ruining a player’s swing’ or ‘going south’ thing is undoubtedly in everyone’s mind with regards to participating in the Home Run Derby, a player’s declining power after the All-Star break could simply be the result of savvy pitchers making adjustments to hitters – especially young hitters – or it could be attributed to the inherent fatigue that every player goes through during the course of a grueling 162-game season.

But whether you are pro Home Run Derby or against it, it’s impossible not to enjoy watching it, especially with the new timed batting practice format that was incorporated in 2015. And if 21-year-old Dodger Cody Bellinger is indeed invited to participate and if his dad Clay Bellinger is indeed his Home Run Derby pitcher, let’s all hope that it’s one of those good days for the young Dodger slugger.