MLB MVP Candidate Eclipses Mark McGwire/Juan Gonzalez RBI Record
Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Cody Bellinger isn’t just having a great season — he’s making history.
The 23-year-old continued his breakout year Monday night when he set the MLB record for most RBIs before May 1.
An RBI single to right field in the sixth inning of the Dodgers’ 3-2 loss to the San Francisco Giants gave Bellinger 37 RBIs.
Clutch. pic.twitter.com/HGAPHZsW1u
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 30, 2019
That not only leads the majors, but it also breaks the record for RBIs before May 1 previously held by Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals and Juan Gonzalez of the Texas Rangers, both of whom had 36 in 1998.
.@Cody_Bellinger has the most RBI (37) before May 1 in @MLB history. ? pic.twitter.com/9saz3pZtfP
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) April 30, 2019
Most RBI in MLB history prior to May 1
Cody Bellinger (2019) 37
Juan Gonzalez (1998) 36
Mark McGwire (1998) 36— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) April 30, 2019
Bellinger also leads the majors, along with Milwaukee’s Christian Yelich, with 14 home runs. His latest came Sunday against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The two young stars were tied with Albert Pujols of the Cardinals (2006) and Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees (2007) for most homers in a season before May 1.
MLB Records Cody Bellinger can break before May 1:
Home Runs:
14: Bellinger/Yelich/Pujols/ARodRuns:
32: Bryce Harper (2017)
30: BellingerHits:
46: Alfonso Soriano (2003)
44: BellingerRBI:
36: Mark McGwire (1998)
36: Bellinger— Blake Harris (@BlakeHarrisTBLA) April 29, 2019
Bellinger and Yelich can break that record Tuesday when the Dodgers face the Giants and the Brewers play the Colorado Rockies.
Bellinger is hitting .434 with 30 runs scored, 46 hits, a .508 on-base percentage and a .906 slugging percentage — all of which are first in the majors.
The single-season RBI record is held by Hack Wilson, who drove in 191 for the Chicago Cubs in 1930. Bellinger is on pace for more than 200 RBIs, but that would require this type of production throughout the year, which is unlikely.
Manny Ramirez has the most RBIs in a single season in the modern era with 165 in 1999, when he was with the Cleveland Indians. That might be in reach for Bellinger.
This is Bellinger’s third year in the big leagues. Last year he hit .260 with 25 home runs and 76 RBIs. In his rookie year he hit .267 with 39 homers and 97 RBIs.
The loss dropped the Dodgers to 19-11, but they still hold a two-game lead in the NL West.
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