Dodgers: Cody Bellinger Has Yet to Take Full Swings Following Shoulder Surgery
The Cody Bellinger shoulder bump during the NLCS was almost a disaster for the Dodgers. Celebrating a huge homerun in Game 7, Bellinger collided with a teammate during the celebration and dislocated his right arm. Luckily for them, they were able to put him in a brace and he battled through the World Series.
The last update that we got on Bellinger from the Dodgers is that his surgery went well. The procedure corrected an issue that caused his shoulder to dislocate often but made it unclear when he would be ready to go at full strength.
Last month, there was an update that Bellinger had yet to pick up a bat and work on his swing. The Dodgers centerfielder wanted to work on some of the tweaks that derailed his 2020 season early on, but had not been able to do that. The OC Register’s Bill Plunkett spoke with Dave Roberts about Bellinger today, and he didn’t seem very concerned.
Once we get to full-squad workouts, I would expect to have him on the field, taking swings…I think right now we’re right where we need to be, from what the trainers are saying…However it looks for Cody’s schedule as far as building it out, I’m not concerned at all for him to be ready offensively for the start of the season.
Plunkett did say that Doc confirmed Bellinger had been taking one-handed swings. Those swings have not been utilizing his surgically repaired shoulder. The good news is that the Dodgers manager is still confident he will be able to get to full swings by February 23rd, the first day of full-squad workouts.
Dodgers Related: Mets and Bewers Still in on JT
Still, the fact that Bellinger has not been able to progress beyond a one-handed swing cannot instill confidence. The Dodgers have made no indication that he will need to miss any part of Spring Training, but his progress is still very much up in the air.
Have you subscribed to our YouTube Channel yet? Subscribe and hit that notification bell to stay up to date on all the latest Dodgers news, interviews, live streams, and more!
Dodgers Have Inquired on Marlins’ First Baseman Garrett Cooper
You know; could be a blessing in disguise that he has taken no swings. Three solid months of healing. Then a slow acceleration to be 100% opening day. And this being an odd numbered year, sounds like Cody could be back on track.
My thoughts exactly. Less time to tinker.
The Dodgers never reveal anything about player injuries. They’ll give you vague generic answers revealing nothing of any significance. If Bellinger can’t swing a bat on 2/23, you’ll hear exactly the same words. We are not worried, we expect he will be ready to go by opening day. Probably a combination of health privacy law, and managing expectations, but it still ticks me off, as a doctor and a fan, I’d prefer to get straight answers.
You are exactly right though they’ll still be saying “We are not worried” on 3/23.
I’m sure the Dodgers have a contingency plan in the event Bellinger opens the 2021 season on the Injured-list.
Yeah. Taylor in the outfield.
Without the DH, or a middle of order RHB, and Bellinger unable to swing a bat during most of ST, nobody can say this offense will be anywhere close to what it was last year.
Bellinger will start the season on the IL and wouldn’t be surprised to not see him until June at the latest or mid- May at the earliest.
And his power will be missing for a while at least.
Better to wait until he is completely healed and ready. So, that makes CT3 a full time outfielder for whatever amount of time it takes. I have to think they will acquire another outfielder, hopefully a right handed one. Should have enough infielders, hope one of them is JT.