Despite a sour final few seasons, Cubs center fielder Cody Bellinger's tenure with the Dodgers was largely successful. In 2017, Bellinger delivered one of the best seasons by a rookie of this century; two years later, he was named the NL's MVP after batting .305 with 47 home runs and 115 RBIs.
However, Bellinger had the ill fortune of leaving Los Angeles before the 2023 season—making his big homecoming liable for interruption.
As Bellinger stepped into the box to lead off the top of the second inning of Friday night’s game between Chicago and the Dodgers, Los Angeles fans rose to give him a standing ovation. Home plate umpire Jim Wolf responded by assessing Bellinger with a pitch-clock violation, putting him down in the count 0–1 against Dodgers pitcher Noah Syndergaard.
Cody Bellinger spent his whole career with the Dodgers, won a World Series in LA, came back for the first time to get a standing ovation as a visitor and got banged for a pitch clock violation. Baseball in 2023. Have some feel, Blue. pic.twitter.com/khT8OWYOvh
— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) April 15, 2023
Bellinger eventually grounded out to first on a full count, and wound up 1 for 4 with a double and a walk as the Cubs romped to an 8–2 win.
The real winners, however, were the rule makers of Major League Baseball.
