Congrats, Belli! You're an MVP!

WooHoo!

As you surely know by now, Cody Bellinger has just been named the 2019 National League Most Valuable Player. He received 19 of 30 first place votes to garner an overall score of 362 point -- finishing just ahead of runner-up Christian Yelich at 317 points. Cody is the twelfth Dodger player to win the award, the last position player being Kirk Gibson in 1988 (Clayton Kershaw had won the award in 2014 ). It is also the fourteenth time a Dodger has been named MVP -- Roy Campanella was awarded the prize three times. BTW, four Dodger pitchers have been named MVP in the past. Per a Dodger press release:

The Chandler High School (Az.) graduate becomes the first Arizona born player in Major League Baseball history to win the Most Valuable Player award and is the third Dodger player to win the Rookie of the Year and MVP, joining Jackie Robinson and Don Newcombe. He is now the only player in franchise history to win the MVP, Rawlings Gold Glove and Louisville Silver Slugger in the same season.

Bellinger, in his third season with the Dodgers, appeared in a team-high 156 games, batting .305 (170-for-558) with 34 doubles, 47 homers and 115 RBI. He ranked among the NL leaders in batting average (.305, 9th), OBP (.406, 3rd), slugging percentage (.629, 2nd), OPS (1.035, 3rd), total bases (351, 1st), home runs (47, 3rd), runs (121, 2nd), RBI (115, 7th), walks (95, 6th) and extra-base hits (84, 2nd). 

He concluded his regular season campaign recording career-highs in runs, hits, doubles, home runs, RBI, walks and stolen bases (15). He finished fourth in the Majors in homers and third in franchise history with 47 homers in a season, finishing behind only Shawn Green (49) and Adrian Beltre (48). His 26 homers at Dodger Stadium set a new franchise record for homers at home, while his 18 homers against left-handed pitchers were the most in the National League.

Check out the vote totals here. Below are some quotes from some of his friends:

• Dodger President, Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman: “On behalf of our ownership and the entire Dodger organization, I want to congratulate Cody on this special award. From the moment the 2018 season ended, he was a man on a mission to better understand his swing and to become a more complete hitter. The results of that work are being rewarded in the ultimate way. His name will forever be etched in franchise history alongside the distinguished list of Dodger greats. This is a special day for Cody Bellinger, his family and the Dodgers.” 
• Dodger Manager Dave Roberts: “I want to congratulate Cody on a tremendous season. Playing every game with passion and a focus on winning a baseball game was the impetus for this MVP campaign. There wasn’t one part of his game that he didn’t dominate. Finally, I’d like to thank him for putting the Dodgers and his teammates above all else.”
• 2014 NL MVP Clayton Kershaw: “I had a ton of fun watching him this year. It’s very well deserved. What everyone says is true – great talent, great athlete, all that stuff…but man, he’s just a great baseball player and there is nothing else to say. Congratulations Cody!”
• 1974 NL MVP Steve Garvey: “Cody’s season showcased a complete player who excelled on offense and defense, while leading his team to a record-setting regular season. The award establishes you in an elite fraternity as those chosen as the best player. It stays with you a lifetime and there’s only one winner in each league every season. I’m extremely proud of Cody.”

You can also watch the emotional announcement below, via ESPN on twitter:

"This is what you dream of."

Cody Bellinger got emotional after winning his first MVP. (via @MLB)pic.twitter.com/6afdlbaOQB

— ESPN (@espn) November 14, 2019

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