DENVER — Dodgers outfielder Cody Bellinger will be in the starting lineup for this year’s All-Star Game in Cleveland. But he won’t be in the Home Run Derby.
The leading overall vote-getter in the “Primary” voting of this year’s revamped All-Star selection process, Bellinger was one of the top three in the “Starters” voting conducted Wednesday and Thursday online. Bellinger, Milwaukee’s Christian Yelich and Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr. will be the National League’s starting outfield.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts will also manage the NL team again this year and said he would line that group up with Bellinger in center field (the position he played much of last season before moving to right field this year), Yelich in right and Acuña in left.
It will be Bellinger’s second All-Star Game in his three big-league seasons but his first start. As a rookie in 2017, he was named to the NL team as a reserve and also participated in the Home Run Derby at Marlins Park.
He said he has declined an invitation to take part in the Derby this year.
“They already called and I said, ‘No, not this year,’” Bellinger said, adding that it wasn’t because he didn’t enjoy the experience in 2017. In fact, he called it “the best part” of his All-Star participation.
“I loved it,” he said. “I had my dad there (Clay Bellinger pitched to his son in the derby). It was great. This year, I just want to have that first day to be off and enjoy everything. Things can get pretty hectic.”
Bellinger said he has watched the Derby in years past and saw all the All-Stars who aren’t participating laying on the grass in front of the dugouts and having a great time.
“That’s going to be me this year,” he said, acknowledging that he might make a different choice next year when the All-Star Game will be played at Dodger Stadium.
It is possible he could have a Dodgers teammate to root on. Joc Pederson (who lost in the final to Todd Frazier at the 2015 All-Star Game in Cincinnati) currently is tied for ninth in the NL with 20 home runs. He said he hasn’t received an invitation yet. Like Bellinger, Pederson said he enjoyed participating in the Derby.
“It was so much fun,” he said. “It was an incredible experience.”
ROSTER MOVES
A day after making his major-league debut, Tony Gonsolin was returned to Triple-A. Left-hander Caleb Ferguson went with him. Ferguson has a 5.48 ERA and 1.74 WHIP in 22 appearances with the Dodgers this season.
“The fastball command and the ability to strike that needs to be more consistent. And he understands that,” Roberts said of Ferguson’s second demotion this season.
“The ability to strike the curveball hasn’t been there for quite some time. I don’t think it’s been there this year. Although you have a good fastball, if it’s not located where it should be more times than not, guys are going to hit it. That’s kind of where we’re at right now. He’ll be fine. He’s just got to go out there and continue to execute.”
In their places, the Dodgers recalled lefty reliever Zac Rosscup and infielder Edwin Rios from Triple-A Oklahoma City. It is Rios’ first trip to the big leagues and Roberts said he could start at third or first during the series in Colorado.
WATER-LOGGED
Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen has twice had episodes of atrial fibrillation during trips to Colorado resulting in heart procedures (including the most recent one last November). His doctors believe dehydration at Denver’s altitude might have triggered the episodes.
“Well – if you’re a human being, you’re going to think about it. I’m not going to lie,” he said. “I’m sending my EKG to my doctors to make sure I’m fine. I check my EKGs (on his cell phone) every day.”
And Jansen has taken precautions to avoid dehydration – eight liters of it every day.
“That’s what he (his cardiologist) said – drink a lot of water,” Jansen said. “I’m tired of (going to the bathroom), believe me. Eight liters of water is a lot of water.”
UP NEXT
Dodgers (LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu 9-1, 1.27 ERA) at Rockies (RHP Antonio Senzatela 6-5, 4.91 ERA), Friday, 5:40 p.m., SportsNet LA (where available), 570 AM
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