Cody Bellinger wins MLB All-Star Game MVP
Bellinger named All-Star Game MVP
Cody Bellinger, who re-signed with the Yankees last winter on a five-year deal, was awarded the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player award. His two-run single in the first inning contributed to the American League‘s 4-0 victory over the National League. Bellinger’s father, Clay Bellinger, a former Yankees player himself, watched as his son received the honour. Cody Bellinger is the fourth Yankees player to win this award, following Derek Jeter in 2000, Mariano Rivera in 2013, and Giancarlo Stanton in 2022.
Bellinger, who turned 31 on Monday, was a fourth-round draft pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2013. He made his first All-Star team in 2017, the same year he was voted NL Rookie of the Year. In 2019, he hit 47 home runs and was named NL MVP after making his second All-Star team. After three challenging seasons, including injuries in 2021, he was released by the Dodgers after the 2022 season.
He then signed a one-year deal with the Cubs, where he achieved a career-high .307 batting average with 29 homers and 97 RBIs. Following that, he signed a three-year contract with the Cubs for $80 million. After another injury-affected season, he was traded to the Yankees. His father noted that Cody enjoys playing for the Yankees, citing his affection for his teammates, the city, and Yankee Stadium.
American League pitching dominates
The American League secured a 4-0 shutout victory against the National League in Tuesday night’s All-Star Game. This marks the AL‘s 18th win in 23 games and gives them a 49-45-2 overall advantage in the series. The game featured a dominant pitching performance, with AL pitchers combining for a three-hitter, the first All-Star shutout since 2013.
Dylan Cease of the Toronto Blue Jays started the game for the AL, striking out Kyle Schwarber, Juan Soto, and CJ Abrams in the first inning. He became the seventh pitcher to strike out three batters in an All-Star opening inning. Cease initially considered starting with a changeup but opted for a 96.9 mph four-seamer after a discussion with Justin Verlander.
The AL bullpen continued the strong performance, with 10 relievers contributing to the three-hitter. Pitchers from both leagues combined for 27 strikeouts, a record for a nine-inning All-Star Game. AL manager John Schneider commented on the exceptional quality of pitching in the game. The only hits for the NL were singles by Soto in the fourth, Pete Crow-Armstrong in the eighth, and Otto Lopez in the ninth.
Beyond Bellinger’s two-run single, Ben Rice added an RBI single in the first inning against Cristopher Sánchez of the Philadelphia Phillies. Miguel Vargas of the Chicago White Sox hit an eighth-inning home run off Justin Wrobleski of the Los Angeles Dodgers, which was the game’s only extra-base hit. Sánchez faced a challenging first inning, throwing 34 pitches and allowing three hits and two walks.
Game highlights and special moments
The event included several special moments, with managers and starting players entering through replica Liberty Bells and signing an oversized lineup card with a feathered quill, which will be donated to the Hall of Fame. The dirt around home plate was adorned with 13 stars, representing the original colonies.
During the fourth inning, a video featuring children bicycling to a sandlot game was played, narrated by actor J.K. Simmons. As footage of Ray Charles singing “America the Beautiful” from Game 2 of the 2001 World Series was shown, the children rode onto the field and interacted with the All-Stars amidst fireworks. NL manager Dave Roberts highlighted the significance of this opportunity for the children.
In terms of player updates, Junior Caminero of Tampa Bay left the game in the third inning after being hit on the left hand by a 97.6 mph sinker from St. Louis closer Riley O’Brien. X-rays on Caminero’s hand were negative. Additionally, Mike Trout, a 12-time All-Star who had not played in the game since 2019 due to injuries, went 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
Source: sportsnet.ca
