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LA Sports: The five greatest rookies of the decade

By Jamaal Artis

ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 13: Mike Trout #27 (C) of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim is presented with the Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award before the game against the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on April 13, 2013 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 13: Mike Trout #27 (C) of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim is presented with the Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award before the game against the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on April 13, 2013 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images) /
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2. Los Angeles Dodgers Cody Bellinger

2017: BA: .297 HR: 39 RBI: 97

No Dodgers rookie slugged and played defense like Cody Bellinger, Bellinger made his debut in late-April of 2017 when first basemen Adrian Gonzalez went down with a back injury. Bellinger immediately let his bat do the talking hitting nine home runs in the month of May to win the NL Rookie of the Month.

Throughout the season Bellinger showed Gold Glove quality defense at both first base and in the outfield.

Bellinger would be named to the All-Star Game as a reserve and became the first rookie in franchise history to hit for the cycle. Bellinger broke Mike Piazza‘s home run record for a rookie of 35 and then set a new record for the NL hitting 39 home runs breaking Frank Robinson‘s and Wally Berger‘s record of 38. Thanks, to Bellinger’s efforts the Dodgers would set a Los Angeles record by winning 104 games on their way to their first World Series in 29 years.

At the end of the season, Bellinger was named Sporting News NL Rookie of the Year and was unanimously voted the NL Rookie of the Year by the Baseball Writers.

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