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‘I loved my time': Cody Bellinger, coming off a 3-home-run game, on being a Chicago Cub and the Yankees trade

‘I loved my time': Cody Bellinger, coming off a 3-home-run game, on being a Chicago Cub and the Yankees trade

Chicago Tribune14 hours ago
NEW YORK — For a moment, Cody Bellinger thought former Chicago Cubs teammate Pete Crow-Armstrong might rob him of his first career three-home-run game.
Crow-Armstrong nearly snagged his home run to right-center field during the eighth inning Friday in the Yankees' 11-0 win. A young Yankees fan caught it, likely preventing Crow-Armstrong from getting his glove on the ball, to give Bellinger the trifecta.
Of course, Bellinger texted Crow-Armstrong afterward about the play.
'I said, 'My guy, what are you doing? You have enough five-star catches, you don't need another one,'' Bellinger recalled Saturday morning with a laugh.
Bellinger downplayed whether his remarkable standout performance was a revenge game or felt sweeter coming against his old team, noting, 'I probably could've done it against anybody and I imagine it would feel just as good.'
Bellinger had already witnessed Cubs right fielder Kyle Tucker prevent him from slugging his third long ball with a leaping catch over the wall in the seventh. He thought he might lose another home run when he saw Crow-Armstrong bolt toward the wall. Bellinger witnessed plenty of spectacular catches by Crow-Armstrong during his two seasons with the Cubs. He has been following Crow-Armstrong's success this year with the Cubs as the 23-year-old's performance has earned him a start for the National League in Tuesday's All-Star Game.
'I'm so proud of him, honestly, I'm happy for him,' Bellinger said. 'He's such a good person, good kid and to elevate your game to a level that he knew was possible, to actually do it is very impressive.'
When Bellinger opted in to his contract in November to remain in Chicago for 2025 — with another player option for 2026 — the 29-year-old believed this year's Cubs team had a lot of potential.
Cody and Clay Bellinger are in rare father-son company. Here's how they've bonded through baseball.'For me, I obviously didn't perform as well as I'd like to, so that was pretty frustrating,' Bellinger said of his 2024 season. 'But honestly, I wanted to get into the postseason. I think we were so close to it in '23, we were running it back with almost the same group (for 2025).'
But once the organization acquired Tucker from Houston in mid-December, Bellinger knew he would be traded.
'So at that point, I was just hoping it was to a good place,' Bellinger said. 'I have nothing but love and respect for Jed (Hoyer). He ultimately took a chance on me. I loved my time with the two years there.'
Bellinger has thrived in the Bronx. His 131 OPS+ ranks third on the Yankees while putting up a .285 average, .340 on-base percentage, 16 home runs, 54 RBIs and 3.0 fWAR in 86 games. He feels fortunate to have been traded to the Yankees, knowing there was no guarantee he would land on a playoff-caliber team.
The organization already carried special meaning to Bellinger. His dad, Clay, was part of two World Series championship teams with the Yankees. Clay fortuitously was at Yankee Stadium on Friday night to witness the three-home-run game.
'It was just uncontrollable in a way because I didn't have a no-trade clause, so I was like I could literally go anywhere if anyone wants to take on the deal or whatever,' Bellinger said. 'It was all really out of my control, but obviously, ultimately, really happy I'm here.'
With how well the Cubs (55-39) and Yankees (53-41) have played this season, both are currently in playoff position. An October rematch of this weekend's series would mean a World Series matchup.
'I would love it,' Bellinger said. 'I would love to go back to Wrigley.'
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