How Cody Bellinger could help the Yankees move on from Juan Soto

NEW YORK Near the end of Alex Verdugos most disappointing season as a big leaguer, he said something that flew in the face of modern analytics and might explain why he was one of MLBs worst everyday players in 2024.

Verdugo mentioned he believes his swing is at its best when hitting the ball to the opposite field.

The statistics would suggest hes incorrect.

From the beginning of the season until May 15, Verdugo was one of the early-season surprises, posting a 111 wRC+ as an above-average defender in left field.

From May 16 until the end of the season, Verdugo posted a 73 wRC+.

So, how did Verdugo go from being the New York Yankees cleanup hitter to becoming unplayable? He stopped pulling the ball in favor of hitting to the opposite field.

Advertisement Verdugo was on pace to post the highest pull percentage of his career until May 15.

This is significant because, without elite exit velocities, his pull-heavy approach combined with playing half his games at Yankee Stadium as a left-handed hitter could have boosted his numbers.

By the end of the season, Verdugo instead registered his highest career opposite-field percentage and worst overall season, likely contributing to his continued availability on the free-agent market and probable path toward a one-year contract elsewhere.

Thats important context when analyzing Cody Bellinger s outlook for the Yankees in 2025.

Like Verdugo, Bellinger does not hit the ball hard, and his Statcast page is as icy blue as the outgoing left fielder.

The blue bubbles featured on players Statcast pages can sometimes be deceiving its not as simple as saying blue is bad and red is good.

A glance at Bellingers Statcast page would suggest the Yankees traded for Verdugo 2.0.

But theres a major difference between the hitters: Bellinger pulls the ball in the air, maximizing his output at the plate.

Its why the addition of Bellinger shouldnt be dismissed as the Yankees rostering a previous MVP winner whose best days are long forgotten.

Cody Bellinger is no stranger to hitting tanks at Yankee Stadium pic.twitter.com/tE5ferWO7C MLB (@MLB) December 17, 2024 His swing is built for Yankee Stadium, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said.

We have 81 home games, plus the games at Steinbrenner Field.

The ballpark is configured for that swing.

He puts the ball in the air on the pull side.

Thats one of his calling cards.

Bellingers 40.5 percent pull rate in 2024 was his lowest since his rookie season in 2017, but he still finished in the 89th percentile in pulled fly-ball rate .

He might not be the same hitter he was during his 2019 National League MVP season, in which he posted a career-best 47 percent pull rate and hit 47 home runs as he took advantage of his then-elite exit velocities by pulling the ball in nearly half his at-bats.

Bellingers production fell off after 2019 as he dealt with a shoulder injury that zapped his ability to hit.

He has rebounded since then with the Chicago Cubs in the past two years but likely doesnt have the MVP ceiling of 2019.

Advertisement Thats what keeps me motivated, Bellinger said about replicating his 2019 season.

I know what I can do.

I know what Ive done.

Thats what I strive for every single year.

I expect that out of myself, and Im probably pretty hard on myself.

One way for Bellinger to maximize his potential in 2025 is by creating more pull-side contact.

Research shows that hitters with below-average bat speeds and exit velocities can overcome that by pulling the ball.

The best example is Houston Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes .

Without proper context, his Statcast page would suggest hes one of the worst hitters in MLB .

But no one pulls the ball in the air more than Paredes, and since the Tampa Bay Rays helped maximize his swing in 2022, hes been a top-50 hitter in MLB and has a higher wRC+ than Fernando Tatis Jr.

over the past three seasons.

As an aside, if you play fantasy baseball, target Paredes, because his numbers should skyrocket in a righty-friendly park in Houston.

Jose Altuve is another example of a player who has maximized his swing to perfection.

Altuve does not hit the ball hard, but he pulls the ball in the air and is destined for the Hall of Fame.

Its also why Anthony Volpe should ditch the all-fields approach he displayed in 2024 and revert to the pull hitter he was in the minor leagues.

With Bellingers uppercut swing and a right-field wall that begs lefties to pull the ball, he could be a well above-average hitter to complement Aaron Judge in the middle of the lineup if he takes advantage.

I really believe hes going to play up offensively in our yard, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.

Wrigley Field was a challenging ballpark for offensive players in 2024 because the weather didnt cooperate most days.

Bellingers numbers took a hit in Chicago this season; his home OPS was .700 compared to .797 on the road.

Scott Boras, Bellingers agent, said in November that he hoped the weather gods improved the offensive environment in 2025.

Advertisement The unpredictability of the weather is not something Bellinger will have to deal with while playing half his games in New York.

As long as he can increase his pull percentage in 2025, he should find the success that Verdugo could not during his lone season with the Yankees.

And if Bellinger can reach the pull percentage he had in 2019, he might be able to help lessen the blow of losing Juan Soto .

(Photo of Cody Bellinger watching his home run off Carlos Rodon on July 7, 2023: Frank Franklin II / Associated Press).

This article has been shared from the original article on theathleticuk, here is the link to the original article.