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Cody Bellinger experienced World Series title with dad Clay at old Yankee Stadium

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Cody Bellinger experienced World Series title with dad Clay at old Yankee Stadium
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News

Cody Bellinger experienced World Series title with dad Clay at old Yankee Stadium

2024-12-20 04:08 Last Updated At:04:11

NEW YORK (AP) — Cody Bellinger experienced a World Series title at old Yankee Stadium.

That's when his dad Clay was part of the 1999 and 2000 champions.

“I have small memories of like the playroom, the kids' playroom that I would go to during the games,” Cody said Thursday, two days after New York acquired him from the Chicago Cubs. “My mom did a great job with the camcorder and so we would watch replays of it growing up and then it kind of helps me remember what we were doing out there when I was 5 or 6.”

He also has memories of his dad in the minors.

“I was the bat boy," Cody said. "That was always really, really cool for me to be able to run out on the field and pick up the players' bats and shag their batting practice,"

Bellinger figures to play outfield or first base with the Yankees, who are retooling after the loss to Juan Soto to the Mets. Left-hander Max Fried was added to the starting rotation and closer Devin Williams to the bullpen.

Clay Bellinger was an outfielder and infielder for the Yankees from 1999 to 2001, then finished his big league career with the Anaheim Angels in 2002. In Game 2 of the 2000 World Series, he caught Todd Zeile's drive off Mariano Rivera at the top of the left-field wall.

“It is truly wild. When I got the news, I called him and he was very excited," Cody said of his dad. "He plays it all cool. But I know deep down he’s really excited.”

Cody won the 2019 NL MVP award with the Los Angeles Dodgers after hitting .305 with 47 homers, 115 RBIs and a 1.035 OPS.

He followed with three straight subpar seasons, missing time in 2021 because of calf, hamstring and rib injuries. He was cut after the 2022 season and signed a $17.5 million, one-year deal with the Cubs.

Bellinger hit a career-high .307 with 29 homers and 97 RBIs, became a free agent again and in late February signed an $80 million, three-year contract with the Cubs that allowed him to opt out after 2024 and 25.

He hit .266 with 18 homers and 78 RBIs in 130 games this year, missing time because of a broken right rib. The Cubs traded the 29-year-old with $52.5 million remaining on the contract and agreed to pay the Yankees $5 million.

If the Yankees acquire a first baseman, they could align Bellinger in center with Aaron Judge in right and Jasson Domínguez in left or put Domínguez in center and Bellinger in left.

Bellinger learned how to stay sharp at multiple positions from former Dodgers teammate Kiké Hernández and told manager Aaron Boone he's flexible.

“I told him that wherever y’all need me to play, I’ll play, whether it’s left, center. If Judge gets a DH day, I’ll play right, or if you need me at first base, I’ll play first,” he said. “I enjoy doing that stuff. I think that it helps the teams that I’m on win.”

A left-handed hitter, Bellinger could benefit from Yankee Stadium's short porch. New York has 87 games with those dimensions because the Tampa Bay Rays will be playing home games at Steinbrenner Field, the Yankees' spring training site.

Bellinger has played just three games in the Bronx, going 3 for 10 with a home run off Carlos Rodón in July 2023 that landed in the right field second deck.

“It definitely excites me,” he said.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

FILE - Chicago Cubs' Cody Bellinger celebrates after scoring on a home run by Isaac Paredes during the third inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley, File)

FILE - Chicago Cubs' Cody Bellinger celebrates after scoring on a home run by Isaac Paredes during the third inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley, File)

FILE - Chicago Cubs' Cody Bellinger hits a double during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley, File)

FILE - Chicago Cubs' Cody Bellinger hits a double during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley, File)

FILE - Chandler Ariz., coach Clay Bellinger, left, smiles at his son and Arizona player Cody Bellinger as they come into the dugout in the third inning against Salisbury, Md., during the 2007 Little League World Series pool play in South Williamsport, Pa., on Saturday, Aug. 18, 2007. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

FILE - Chandler Ariz., coach Clay Bellinger, left, smiles at his son and Arizona player Cody Bellinger as they come into the dugout in the third inning against Salisbury, Md., during the 2007 Little League World Series pool play in South Williamsport, Pa., on Saturday, Aug. 18, 2007. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

FILE - National League Rookie of the Year Cody Bellinger, left, of the Los Angeles Dodgers, receives his award from his father Clay Bellinger during the New York Chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America annual dinner in New York, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)

FILE - National League Rookie of the Year Cody Bellinger, left, of the Los Angeles Dodgers, receives his award from his father Clay Bellinger during the New York Chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America annual dinner in New York, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)

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Sam Darnold and Justin Jefferson lead surging Vikings past Seahawks 27-24

2024-12-23 08:37 Last Updated At:08:40

SEATTLE (AP) — Sam Darnold connected with a well-covered Justin Jefferson with 3:51 left for his third TD pass of the game, and the Minnesota Vikings outlasted Geno Smith and the Seattle Seahawks 27-24 on Sunday to keep pace with Detroit for the top spot in the NFC.

After the Seahawks took the lead on Smith's third TD pass, Darnold led a 30-second drive that was aided by a 15-yard facemask penalty. He stepped up in a collapsing pocket and launched a deep ball that Jefferson hauled in just short of the goal line with two defenders closing in.

Jefferson finished with 10 catches for 148 yards as the Vikings (13-2) won their eighth straight. If they can beat Green Bay and Detroit to close out the season, they will earn the top seed in the conference and a first-round playoff bye.

Darnold threw for multiple touchdowns for the 11th time this season and more than 200 yards for the 10th. He finished 22 of 35 for 246 yards, helping Kevin O'Connell become the first Vikings coach with multiple 13-win seasons. Not bad for a veteran who was signed to a one-year deal as a placeholder after the Vikings drafted J.J. McCarthy, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in the preseason.

Smith threw for 314 yards and his 4-yard TD pass to AJ Barner gave the Seahawks a 24-20 lead with 4:41 left, but he couldn't rally Seattle (8-7) after Jefferson's TD catch. Jason Myers missed a 60-yard field goal try after the two-minute warning, and Theo Jackson picked off Smith with 49 seconds left to seal it.

The Seahawks have lost two straight after a four-game winning streak and fell one game behind the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC West.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) runs with the football as Minnesota Vikings safety Camryn Bynum (24) tries to tackle during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) runs with the football as Minnesota Vikings safety Camryn Bynum (24) tries to tackle during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) looks to pass while pressured by Minnesota Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman (51) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) looks to pass while pressured by Minnesota Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman (51) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88) celebrates after catching a 4-yard touchdown pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88) celebrates after catching a 4-yard touchdown pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks tight end Noah Fant (87) celebrates during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks tight end Noah Fant (87) celebrates during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (43), right, celebrates after sacking Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (43), right, celebrates after sacking Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) celebrates after forcing a incomplete pass intended for Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) celebrates after forcing a incomplete pass intended for Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) celebrates after catching a pass against Seattle Seahawks safeties Julian Love (20) Rayshawn Jenkins (2) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) celebrates after catching a pass against Seattle Seahawks safeties Julian Love (20) Rayshawn Jenkins (2) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) is sacked by Seattle Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) is sacked by Seattle Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) scores a 39-yard touchdown ahead of Seattle Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) scores a 39-yard touchdown ahead of Seattle Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

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