‘Cody … You Are Ridiculous!’

Ok, that headline isn’t original. It was borrowed from popular Dodgers broadcaster Joe Davis, who once said “Cody Bellinger, you are ridiculous,” to describe an impossible play made by 2017 National League Rookie of the Year Cody Bellinger on July 20 that season. Bellinger, of course, would go on to win the 2019 NL MVP award two seasons later.

Although Davis didn’t use his now-immortal line during Monday’s Cactus League game between the Dodgers and the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch in Glendale AZ, he most certainly could have … but for a different Cody – 25-year-old Colleyville, TX native and Dodgers outfield prospect Cody Thomas, who the Dodgers selected in the 13th round of the 2016 Draft out of the University of Oklahoma.

Thomas entered the game in the top of the sixth inning as a replacement for (wait for it…) Cody Bellinger, although Thomas played right field, as Dodgers newcomer and perennial All-Star Mookie Betts also came out of the game in the sixth.

In the bottom half of the inning, the left-handed-hitting Thomas absolutely crushed a leadoff solo home run to deep right-center field to give the Dodgers a (then) 1-0 lead.

Thomas’ leadoff opposite-field solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning broke a (then) scoreless tie. It was followed three batters later by a solo blast off the bat of Dodgers replacement second baseman Omar Estevez in a game that ended in a 2-2 tie. (Video capture courtesy of SportsNet LA)

But wait… there’s more!

In the top of the seventh inning, White Sox right fielder Blake Rutherford crushed a flyball to deep right field that everyone in the house thought for sure was gone; in fact, it was gone … except for that Thomas fellow. Getting an excellent jump, Thomas raced to the fence and made a ridiculous Cody Bellinger-like leaping catch a good three feet above the fence to rob Rutherford of a sure home run to end the inning.

Ridiculous.
(Video capture courtesy of SportsNet LA)

“They’ve done an awesome job and it’s been an incredible experience and I’m so glad I’ve been a Dodger,” Thomas told reporters after the game. “They gave me a leash in the beginning to build up a catalog in my head of pitches. I definitely think I’m turning a corner in my career.”

What makes this story even more ridiculous is that Thomas was the back-up quarterback for current Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield when the pair played football together for the Sooners. In fact, Thomas saw action in the 2015 Orange Bowl against Clemson.

Who knew?

Cody Thomas, you are ridiculous!

Play Ball!

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2 Responses to “‘Cody … You Are Ridiculous!’”

  1. oldbrooklynfan says:

    Talk about replacing somebody, not only in name…… I saw that homer last night in a replay of the game on MLBN. That catch was also very impressive. Good luck to him, whoever he is.
    Did you sit behind home plate during that game?

    • Ron Cervenka says:

      Actually, I was sitting in front of my TV at home.

      Also, whenever we include a player’s name (MLB or MiLB) in any of our articles, we attach a link to their Baseball_Reference page (which is why their names are blue and underlined). If you click on those underlined names, it will open their Baseball_Reference page. If you had done so for Cody Thomas, you would have immediately known “whoever he is.”

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