Eight young stars leading the MLB youth movement

1. Cody Bellinger, first baseman/outfielder, Los Angeles Dodgers

Cody Bellinger is a well-known slugger for those who cover the minors. The 21-year-old has slashed a .271/.353/.501 line across five minor league teams. This season during his stint in Triple-A, he was hitting a .343 average with five home runs and 15 RBI.

He was recently promoted to the Los Angeles Dodgers after some injuries to Joc Pederson and Logan Forsythe. The natural first baseman took refuge in the outfield and held his own. He had his first career home run on April 29, which ultimately ended up being a two-home run game for Bellinger. He then had another multi-home run game (and his first career grand slam) several days later.

At the moment, he’s taking over for 14-year veteran Adrian Gonzalez, who for the first time in his career landed on the disabled list. More than earning his keep, Bellinger was just recognized as the National League Player of the Week.