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Cody Bellinger took home 2026 MLB All-Star Game MVP honors after staking the American League to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, helping power a shutout win over the National League, per DodgerBlue.com. And almost as soon as the trophy was in his hands, Bellinger made clear his mind was already back on the Dodgers and what’s ahead in the second half.

Bellinger’s career arc is one of the wildest in recent Dodger memory — and yes, he’s still very much part of ours. The former NL MVP (2019) and NL Rookie of the Year (2017) struggled badly enough to get non-tendered after the 2023 season, spent a year with the Cubs, and then landed with the Yankees before ultimately finding his way back to a Dodgers uniform. That journey from franchise cornerstone to castoff and back again makes a moment like this hit differently. Bellinger joins Derek Jeter (2000), Mariano Rivera (2013), and current teammate Giancarlo Stanton (2022) as the only players in New York Yankees history — and now Dodgers lore — to win All-Star Game MVP. That’s rarefied air regardless of the uniform, and the fact that Bellinger shares that list with Stanton while they’re on the same roster is a fun little footnote.

The two-run contribution in the first inning was vintage Bellinger — the kind of immediate, decisive impact he’s capable of when his swing is right. We’ve seen enough of his peaks and valleys to know that All-Star Game performance doesn’t guarantee a monster second half, but the confidence that comes from a night like this matters. Bellinger has always been a streaky hitter, and positive momentum is real for a player wired the way he is. When Bellinger is locked in — hands quiet, staying through the ball — he’s a legitimate middle-of-the-order force. When he’s not, it gets ugly fast. Right now, the arrow is pointing up.

What I find most telling is the attitude. Bellinger didn’t bask in the All-Star moment. He immediately pivoted to the Dodgers and the series ahead. That’s the kind of mentality you want from a guy who’s been through as much as he has. He’s not here for personal accolades — he’s here to win, and he knows what’s at stake in a second half where this team has real aspirations.

For the Dodgers, having Bellinger riding this kind of wave into the second half is significant. Our lineup already has no shortage of firepower, but Bellinger producing at a high level adds yet another layer of depth that opposing pitching staffs have to account for. He’s not a complementary piece when he’s rolling — he’s a genuine threat, and the Midsummer Classic MVP award is a nice reminder of that. Let’s see if he carries this into the games that actually count.

Source(s): Staff (DodgerBlue.com) | First reported: July 16, 2026 2:40 PM UTC

God Bless and Go Dodgers