Philadelphia saw a standout performance from Cody Bellinger. His daughters sat beside him, and his father, Clay Bellinger, looked on as Cody spoke about his Most Valuable Player award at the All-Star Game. “Watching him win an award is pretty cool,” former Yankee Clay Bellinger said after Cody’s two-run single off Cristopher Sánchez led the American League to a 4-0 victory.

Bellinger rejoined the Yankees last winter under a $162.5 million, five-year contract. He was crucial to the team’s offense; his batting average stood at .280 in mid-June but declined to .254 by the All-Star break. His last home run was over a month ago. Despite this, Cody and Clay Bellinger represent a unique father-son pair in baseball, having bonded through the sport.

“Baseball is the craziest game in the world. It really is. Sometimes it’s unexplainable,” Cody reflected. “Going into the break, I actually was feeling pretty good. I felt like I was on the right track.”

Clay Bellinger played as an outfielder and infielder for the Yankees from 1999 to 2001 and won two World Series titles. Cody was only 5 years old when his father claimed his second championship. Clay didn’t anticipate the heights Cody would reach. “I knew he was good, but not this good,” Clay admitted.

Cody became the fourth Yankees player to earn the All-Star Game MVP, following legends like Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, and Giancarlo Stanton. About wearing the Yankees jersey, Cody shared, “I feel proud wearing it. It comes with a lot.”

Cody, who turned 31 recently, was a fourth-round pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2013. He was an All-Star in 2017 and won NL Rookie of the Year. In 2019, he hit 47 home runs, earning the NL MVP title. “I thought I’d be here every year,” he mentioned, acknowledging the league’s competitiveness.

Following three challenging seasons, Cody faced injuries and was released after the 2022 season. He joined the Cubs, signing a $17.5 million deal, and delivered a stellar performance with a .307 average, 29 homers, and 97 RBIs. Bellinger later signed an $80 million, three-year deal but faced setbacks, eventually being traded to the Yankees. He explored free agency but chose to stay in New York. “He loves it there,” Clay noted of Cody’s affinity for his team and city.

Accompanied by his daughters, Caiden and Cy, and wife, Chase, Cody took the field for photos after receiving his award from Mike Schmidt, a Hall of Famer. “You always hope for your kids to do well,” Clay expressed, highlighting the journey Cody has had in baseball.