Bellinger looks to bounce back with the Cubs
Cody Bellinger is getting a fresh start with the Chicago Cubs, and manager David Ross said the twotime All-Star has a “good energy about him.”
“He feels really good. He talks it. He hit an absolute missile yesterday in the live BPs down on the back fields,” Ross said. “It was nice to see . ... It's a big year for him and he's got something to prove, but it's not a pressure-type thing. It's just like I want to go out there and play baseball and can't wait to get started.”
The 27-year-old Bellinger spent his first six seasons with the Dodgers. He was named National League Rookie of the Year in 2017 when he had 39 home runs and 97 RBIs in 132 games. Two years later, he won the NL MVP award after batting .305 with 47 homers and 115 RBIs. But he hasn't been the same since that monster performance, hitting just .210 last year with 150 strikeouts in 144 games. He hit .165 in 95 games in 2021.
Bellinger signed a $17.5 million, one-year deal with Chicago in December, and Ross said the center fielder is working on adjustments at the plate.
“I think everybody has a little bit of tweaks in their game when they go into the offseason, things they want to improve on. He's no different,” said Ross, a Dodgers catcher from 2002-04.
Guardians' prospects sidelined by injuries
Cleveland Guardians top pitching prospect Daniel Espino will be sidelined at least two months with a right shoulder strain.
Espino, who was tracking to possibly make his big league debut this season, reported soreness after a throwing session last month. Further tests revealed the strain. The 22-year-old will be re-evaluated later in camp, but at this point the team doesn't expect him to throw for eight weeks.
Espino struck out 35 in 18 1/3 innings at Double-A Akron last season before being sidelined with knee tendinitis.
“We've got to remind ourselves like, `OK he's really young,'” Guardians manager Terry Francona said. “So, patience isn't always the easiest word, but it's the best word. So, we're gonna do the right thing.”
Also, outfielder Chase DeLauter, the team's top draft pick last year, will be out 4-to-5 months with a broken foot. He reported pain while running in December and imaging tests showed a fracture at the base of his toe.
DeLauter had bone graft surgery on Jan. 10.
He was the No. 7 overall pick last year out of James Madison.
Braves' Strider wild about new number
Atlanta Braves righthander Spencer Strider has changed his number from 65 to 99 for his second big league season.
The hard-throwing Strider finished second to teammate Michael Harris II in the NL Rookie of the Year voting and then plotted a uniform number change. He was inspired by the hard-throwing fictional star of the baseball movie “Major League.”
“Picking your jersey number in baseball to me has always been something of importance and my favorite movie is Major League and I like Rick Vaughn, so I see some similarities between Wild Thing and myself,” Strider said.
Strider, 24, was signed to a $75 million, six-year contract after posting an 11-5 record and 2.67 ERA in 31 games, including 20 starts. He had 202 strikeouts in 131 2/3 innings.