Dodgers' Cody Bellinger dislocates shoulder while celebrating his clutch home run during NLCS Game 7 win over Braves - but pops it back into place as LA advances to World Series
Los Angeles Dodgers centerfielder Cody Bellinger's go-ahead home run in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series nearly ended his season on Sunday when his overenthusiastic celebration with teammates briefly left him with a dislocated shoulder.
Fortunately for Bellinger and the Dodgers, who advanced to the World Series with a 4-3 win over the Atlanta Braves, the All-Star was able to pop his shoulder back into place and finish the game.
'Not the first time it's happened,' Bellinger told ESPN's Scott Van Pelt after the win. 'I just had to run back to the training room, and they had to pop it back in real quick. But I felt good. I was good enough to play defense to end the game, that's for sure.'
Did Cody Bellinger dislocate his shoulder? pic.twitter.com/3lH08W7Onq
— Pitcher List (@PitcherList) October 19, 2020
Did Cody Bellinger dislocate his shoulder? pic.twitter.com/3lH08W7Onq
Cody Bellinger broke Sunday's 3-3 tie in the seventh inning with a 417-foot shot to right-center field off of Braves reliever Chris Martin. After crossing home plate, Bellinger jumped in the air to exchange an elbow bump with teammate Kiké Hernandez, whose pinch-hit home run tied the game in the sixth
Unfortunately for Bellinger, the elbow bump was a bit too much and the 6-foot-4 slugger appeared to injure himself on the exchange. Other teammates tried to initiate elbow bumps with Bellinger, who spun around to avoid further contact
Bellinger broke Sunday's 3-3 tie in the seventh inning with a 417-foot shot to right-center field off of Braves reliever Chris Martin. After crossing home plate, Bellinger jumped in the air to exchange an elbow bump with teammate Kiké Hernandez, whose pinch-hit home run tied the game in the sixth.
Unfortunately for Bellinger, the elbow bump was a bit too much and the 6-foot-4 slugger appeared to injure himself on the exchange. Other teammates tried to initiate elbow bumps with Bellinger, who spun around to avoid further contact.
'I hit Kike's shoulder a little too hard and my shoulder popped out,' Bellinger told MLB Network.
'So, I had to go back in the training room. They popped it back in and I was ready to play some defense. It kinda hurt.'
Bellinger didn't swear off similar celebrations in the future, but said he'll try not to use his right arm, which he's dislocated several times.
'Yeah, I'm gonna maybe use my left arm,' he said. 'I've never dislocated that one, so I'll go left arm.'
The Dodgers will square off with the American League champion Tampa Bay Rays in the World Series beginning in front of a limited crowd in Arlington Texas on Tuesday night.
This is the third time in four years the Dodgers have reached the World Series after losing to the Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox in 2017 and 2018, respectively.
Los Angeles Dodgers' Cody Bellinger, center, reacts with the Dodgers' bench after hitting a solo home run against the Atlanta Braves during the seventh inning of Game 7 of the NLCS