Cody Bellinger
A sweet-swinging phenom who exploded onto the baseball scene with historic power, weathered a dramatic slump, and authored a stunning comeback.
Born 1995 (age 31)·American baseball player·Birthday: July 13·Millennials
Biography
Cody Bellinger arrived in the major leagues not with a whisper, but with a barrage of home runs. The son of a former big leaguer, he joined the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2017 and immediately rewrote the record books, his effortless left-handed swing producing rookie home run totals that seemed pulled from a video game. His 2019 season was a masterpiece, earning him the National League's Most Valuable Player award as he led the Dodgers to the best record in baseball. Then, just as swiftly, his mechanics unraveled. For two years, he struggled through injuries and a baffling loss of form, his batting average plummeting. Cut loose by the Dodgers, he found redemption with the Chicago Cubs in 2023, rediscovering his swing and his confidence to become the Comeback Player of the Year, proving his story was far from over.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Cody was born in 1995, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Cody Was Born
The biggest hits of 1995
#1 Movie
Toy Story
Best Picture
Braveheart
#1 TV Show
Seinfeld
Cody's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1995Born
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2000Started school
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2008Became a teenager
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Could drive
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2013Could vote
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2016Turned 21
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2025Turned 30
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 31 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the National League MVP award in 2019 with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
- Named the National League Rookie of the Year in 2017 after hitting 39 home runs.
- Won a World Series championship with the Dodgers in 2020.
- Earned the National League Comeback Player of the Year award in 2023 with the Chicago Cubs.
- Won a Gold Glove Award for his defensive play in center field in 2019.
Did You Know?
His father, Clay Bellinger, won two World Series rings as a utility player for the New York Yankees.
He hit his first major league home run in his fourth career game.
In his MVP season, he became the first Dodger to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in a single year.
“I just try to keep it simple. See the ball, hit the ball.”
