Photo Credits: Ken Griffey Jr. photo from Jim Bates/The Seattle Times, Cody Bellinger photo from Gary A. Vazquez/USA TODAY Sports
Coming off a season when he took home the National League Most Valuable Player Award, Cody Bellinger showed the baseball community his ability to play baseball at a league-best level at a very young age. Bellinger was 23 years old during the 2019 season, becoming the youngest NL MVP since Bryce Harper’s 22-year-old MVP season in 2015. Cody Bellinger’s first two MLB seasons are also worth mentioning, despite not being quite as good as his impeccable 2019. Bellinger hit 39 home runs in 2017, setting the National League rookie record, and followed it up in 2018 with 25 home runs and an improved defensive prowess. Bellinger has the potential to go down as one of baseball’s best, so it’s only fair to compare him to another player of that caliber.
Ken Griffey Jr., known as simply, “The Kid,” is one of baseball’s most beloved players. Junior’s well-rounded game in centerfield is one that baseball has seen almost nothing quite like, before Junior’s time or after, which makes it one that comes with very few worthy competitors. However, Cody Bellinger, who was likely influenced by the play of Junior, has shown a similar skillset in his first three seasons with the Dodgers.
The Statistics
Year One
Ken Griffey Jr. (1989, 19 years old)
506 PA, .264/.329/.420 (.748 OPS), 120 H, 16 HR, 61 R, 61 RBI, 44 BB, 16 SB, 2.5 fWAR
Cody Bellinger (2017, 21 years old)
548 PA, .267/.352/.581 (.933 OPS), 128 H, 39 HR, 87 R, 97 RBI, 64 BB, 10 SB, 4.0 fWAR
Year Two
Ken Griffey Jr. (1990, 20 years old)
666 PA, .300/.366/.481 (.847 OPS), 179 H, 22 HR, 91 R, 80 RBI, 63 BB, 16 SB, 5.0 fWAR
Cody Bellinger (2018, 22 years old)
632 PA, .260/.343/.470 (.814 OPS), 145 H, 25 HR, 84 R, 76 RBI, 69 BB, 14 SB, 3.6 fWAR
Year Three
Ken Griffey Jr. (1991, 21 years old)
633 PA, .327/.399/.527 (.926 OPS), 179 H, 22 HR, 76 R, 100 RBI, 71 BB, 18 SB, 6.9 fWAR
Cody Bellinger (2019, 23 years old)
661 PA, .305/.406/.629 (1.035 OPS), 170 H, 47 HR, 121 R, 115 RBI, 95 BB, 15 SB, 7.8 fWAR
Notable Statistical Comparisons
- Bellinger and Griffey both had slightly shortened rookie seasons in which neither player eclipsed 550 plate appearances, although they were shortened for different reasons.
- In their second seasons, both players improved on the defensive end.
- With two seasons under each player’s belt, Bellinger and Griffey both recorded their best career seasons up to that point in their careers in their respective third seasons.
The Hardware
One of the more recognized ways of showing how well a player has played in any given season is to honor that player with an award. Bellinger and Griffey both played very well in their first three Major League seasons, and so they were honored with awards such as All-Star selections, Gold Glove awards, and Silver Slugger awards. Here’s how the trophy cases break down for these two players:
Ken Griffey Jr. (1989-1991):
- AL All-Star (’90, ’91)
- Gold Glove Award (’90, ’91)
- Silver Slugger Award (’91)
Cody Bellinger (2017-2019):
- NL All-Star (’17, ’19)
- NL Most Valuable Player (’19)
- NL Rookie of the Year (’17)
- Gold Glove Award (’19)
- Silver Slugger Award (’19)
A Look Into the Future
There’s no doubt baseball fans adored Ken Griffey Jr. through his playing days and still do, now a decade removed from his retirement. Junior’s first three seasons were great, but they were not his best. The best was yet to come for The Kid.
Cody Bellinger entered the Major Leagues just two years older than Junior when he did. It’s surely unfair to suggest Bellinger will lead one of baseball’s most illustrious careers as Ken Griffey Jr. had put together, but the similar statistics and styles of play at a young age suggest Bellinger has a solid chance.
Arrick Joel has covered the Dodgers since 2017. Follow him on Twitter at @ArrickJoel and follow @DodgersLowDown for more.