Cody Bellinger wins the MLB All-Star game, wins the MVP award | Baseball news

With his father – former major leaguer Clay Bellinger – in attendance, the New York Yankees player received MVP honors.

Cody Bellinger had a night for the ages.

His young daughters sat next to him and his father watched from the back of the room as he spoke about winning the Major League Baseball’s (MLB) All-Star Game’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.

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“Just being able to hang out and see him win an award, it’s great,” former Yankee Clay Bellinger said after his son’s two-run home run in the first inning off Christopher Sanchez led the American League to a 4-0 victory on Tuesday night.

Cody re-signed with the Yankees last winter for $162.5m, five years and has been a key part of the offense. He hit .280 until mid-June before slumping to around .254 heading into the All-Star break. Bellinger didn’t come home for a month.

“Baseball is the craziest game in the world,” he said. “Going into the break, I was feeling really good. I felt like I was on the right track.”

Clay Bellinger was an outfielder and pitcher for the Yankees from 1999 to 2001, winning back-to-back World Series titles, then ending his career with the Anaheim Angels in 2002.

Cody was five years old when his father won his second World Series title. Clay didn’t think actor Cody would change.

“I knew he was good, but not this good,” Clay said.

‘It took me a long time to come back’

Cody became the fourth Yankees player to win the All-Star Game MVP after Derek Jeter (2000), Mariano Rivera (2013) and Giancarlo Stanton (2022).

“Wearing this jersey – I’m proud to wear it,” he said. “It comes with a lot.”

Bellinger, who turned 31 on Monday, was a fourth-round pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2013 and made the All-Star team in 2017, where he was voted NL Rookie of the Year. He hit 47 homers in 2019 and was voted NL MVP after making his second All-Star team.

“I was like, ‘Oh, I’m going to be here every year,'” he said. “It took a long time to get back. It’s a very competitive league.”

He followed with three straight seasons, missing time in 2021 due to calf, hamstring and rib injuries. He was cut after the 2022 season and signed a $17.5m, one-year contract with the Cubs.

Bellinger hit a career high .307 with 29 homers and 97 RBIs, became a free agent and signed an $80m, three-year contract with the Cubs. After a subpar, injury-delayed season, he was dealt to the Yankees.

He tried the free market, then decided to stay in pinstripes.

“They love it there,” Clay said. “He loves his teammates, he loves the city, he loves playing in Yankee Stadium. So, it was a no-brainer.”

Daughters Caiden and Cy accompanied Cody to the field with his wife, Chase, for photos after receiving his award from Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt.

“You always expect your kids to do well, whether they’re playing football or doing whatever they like,” Clay said. “He’s been very successful for a long time.”