Dodgers: Cody Bellinger is Officially Retiring the Forearm Slam Celebration
Kids, take this as a lesson. If you hit a big home run or make the play of the game — in any sport — don’t hurt yourself celebrating the feat. Don’t be like Cody Bellinger.
The Dodgers’ slugger connected on a go-ahead, game-winning, series-clinching dinger against the Braves last October. The trot and celebration started out simple enough — cool, even. Then after crossing home plate, Belli got a little over zelli zealous in bashing forearms with his teammates. Ultimately, he dislocated his right shoulder (with some help from former teammate Enrique Hernandez).
More importantly, he learned a lesson.
Speaking with reporters this week, the Dodger outfielder officially retired the forearm bash for a more toned-down approach.
“Never again,” Bellinger said of the bash. “I will be a handshake guy for the rest of my career, that’s for sure. I’m done with that.”
To some, this may come as a let down, particularly after the brief introduction of the toe tap in the World Series…
World Series GM 1: Cody Bellinger homers, taps feet following NLCS injury, as Dodgers cruise 8-3
… but if you hear about the potential long-term effects that would come with continued damage to that shoulder, you’d understand why he’s aiming to pick the celebration most easy on the body.
To continue to have the risk of it popping out is bad for the labrum, and it’s dangerous. If it would’ve popped out a few more times, I don’t know for sure, but I think the recovery is even longer. So for me to get it out of the way, and get ready for Opening Day, was worth it.
After surgery, Cody says he’s ahead of schedule and “100%” expects to be ready for opening day. If things continue to as they are, he expects to be in game situations by about March 15th, leaving him just over two weeks to get ready for that game 1 start in Colorado. In case he can’t answer the bell, Dave Roberts has mentioned Chris Taylor as an option for time in center field for the Los Angeles ballclub.
NEXT: Chris Taylor to Play Some Third Base in ’21, Can He Be The Impact Righty Bat LA Needs?
