Cody Bellinger is back in a big way. The Yankees' outfielder had been mired in a slump since his two-homer game against the Royals on April 18, managing just a .171 average with no home runs and a .521 OPS over the next 10 games. But this weekend against the Baltimore Orioles, he reminded everyone why he's one of the most dynamic hitters in the game.
After ripping two doubles in Friday's win, Bellinger took center stage on Saturday with his second two-home run performance of the season, powering the Yankees to a 9-4 victory. He kicked off the scoring in the second inning with a solo shot off Kyle Bradish, then added another solo blast in the fifth off Keegan Akin. But he wasn't done there—Bellinger went a perfect 4-for-4 on the day, adding an RBI double in the third and an RBI single in the seventh, along with stealing his fourth base of the season.
"I was feeling good pregame," Bellinger said. "Tough guy on the mound. He's got really good stuff. So really, honestly, I wasn't trying to do too much all day today and got a few pitches to hit that I didn't miss."
According to Stathead's Katie Sharp, Bellinger became just the fourth Yankee in the last 35 years to record at least four hits, four RBI, and a steal in a single game, joining an elite club that includes Alex Rodriguez, Johnny Damon, and Derek Jeter. Yankees manager Aaron Boone was impressed: "That's Cody Bellinger. You see the speed, the power, the athleticism, the two-strike hitting… Just a great day by a great player."
The breakout performance pushed Bellinger's season line to .276 with five home runs and an .855 OPS—a significant jump from his .250 average and .755 OPS entering the game. For a player who returned to the Yankees on a five-year, $162.5 million deal this offseason, it's exactly the kind of spark the team needed. With the Yankees now 22-11, Bellinger summed it up perfectly: "It's been good. Room for improvement, obviously, and I love where we're at as a team. I'm just excited to be a part of it."
And he wasn't the only re-signed outfielder to go deep Saturday—Trent Grisham also connected, making it a day to remember for the Yankees' outfield corps. For fans watching at home or at the ballpark, it's a reminder that when this lineup clicks, it's a force to be reckoned with.