As a surprise to absolutely no one, Dodgers first baseman Cody Bellinger was the unanimous 2017 National League Rookie of the Year, as chosen by the Baseball Writers Association of America.

The 22-year-old Scottsdale, Arizona native and son of three-time World Series champion Clay Bellinger follows (now) 23-year-old Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager, who was the 2016 NL Rookie of the Year, also by a unanimous vote.

Bellinger is the 18th Dodger to win the prestigious award, the most by any MLB team since the award’s inception in 1947. That inaugural award was won by Dodgers legend Jackie Robinson, for whom the award in now fittingly named after.

Bellinger finished the 2017 season with a remarkable slash-line of .267 / .352 / .581 for an insane OPS of .933. He also slugged 39 home runs, four triples and 26 doubles, while driving in 97 runs and scoring 87. For good measure, the 6′-4″ / 210-pound left-handed-hitting and throwing Bellinger also stole 10 bases. He also etched his way into the history books with his 39 round-trippers, surpassing previous NL record holders Wally Berger (1930) and Frank Robinson (1956), who each hit 38 home runs during their rookie seasons.

What makes all of this all the more incredible is that fact that Bellinger wasn’t called up to the major leagues until April 25, a full 21 games into the 2017 season.

Bellinger’s 39 home runs are the most ever by a National League Rookie.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

But wait, there’s more!

On July 15, Bellinger became only the 10th Dodger (third LA Dodger) to hit for the cycle, doing so against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. He is the only Dodger rookie in franchise history to do so. The last Dodger to hit for the cycle was Orlando Hudson on April 13, 2009 against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium to snap a 39-year Dodgers cycle drought. Before Hudson, the last Dodger to cycle was first baseman Wes Parker, who accomplished one of baseball’s rarest feats on May 7, 1970 against the Mets at Shea Stadium.

Dad Clay Bellinger, sister Ashli, Cody, mom Jennifer and brother Cole.
(Photo courtesy of @colebell24)

In addition to his 2017 NL Rookie of the Year title, Bellinger also received the 2017 Players Choice Award for Outstanding NL Rookie. He was also the Dodgers Hank Aaron Award nominee and was named the Sporting News National League Rookie of the Year. He joins Mike Piazza (1993), Raul Mondesi (1994) and Seager (2016) as the fourth Dodger to win the prestigious award by a unanimous vote.

And if that isn’t enough to float your boat, Belly also became the first position player in Dodgers history to make the All-Star team in his first season in the Majors and the youngest position player to be honored as an All-Star in franchise history. Not bad for a kid who was drafted by the Dodgers in the fourth round of the 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Hamilton High School in Chandler, Arizona.

Here is a complete list of the National League Rookie of the Year voting by the BBWAA:

Player, Club                                    1st      2nd       3rd        Points

Cody Bellinger, Dodgers                    30                                    150

Paul DeJong, Cardinals                                15         11              56

Josh Bell, Pirates                                          10          2               32

Rhys Hoskins, Phillies                                    1          9               12

German Marquez, Rockies                             2          4               10

Manuel Margot, Padres                                  1           2                5

Kyle Freeland, Rockies                                  1                              3

Luis Castillo, Reds                                                       1                1

Ian Happ, Cubs                                                            1                1