Cody Bellinger slams one out of stadium, shows why he is Dodgers’ top prospect

After the success of Corey Seager and Julio Urias in 2016, the depth of the Los Angeles Dodgers farm system continues to produce prodigious talent, best exhibited by top prospect Cody Bellinger on Saturday at Camelback Ranch.

With one swing, Bellinger showed the ridiculous power contained in his left-handed swing, turning on an inside fastball from hapless Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Andrew Barbosa.

The Dodgers roster is mostly intact from their 2016 National League Championship Series run and is laden with veterans. Bellinger is in camp as a non-roster invitee, but the unsettled status of Adrian Gonzalez’ right elbow could potentially open the door for Bellinger to surprise the organization.  He is currently projected to start the season where he finished 2016, at AAA Oklahoma City. Scott Van Slyke, Chase Utley and Rob Segedin are listed as backups to Gonzalez at first base, but it’s clear that Bellinger is considered the future for the organization at the position.

Bellinger was ranked the 15th top prospect in the organization heading into 2015. After a phenomenal 30-home run season at single-A Rancho Cucamonga, he shot up the rankings in 2016, landing at the three spot on the prospect list.

Drafted in the third round in 2013, Bellinger blossomed into a power hitter, and finished 2016 with 26 home runs at AA and AAA against more advanced pitching. His OPS was an unfathomable 1.947 in his short stay at Oklahoma City, and the appeal of his power was evident this off-season, as the top Dodgers brass refused to include him in any rumored trade deals.

Bellinger may not be appearing at Dodger Stadium to start the season, but he is definitely the top prospect in the organization, right now. Odds are he makes an appearance sooner rather than later.

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And with that picturesque, powerful swing, it looks like he’s going to stay for a long time.