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Dodgers first baseman Cody Bellinger tied an 87-year-old National League record on Saturday, hitting his 38th home run of the season, the most home runs ever hit by a National League rookie.
Bellinger, whose solo blast was hit against A.J. Cole of the Nationals in the second inning, is now tied with Wally Berger of the Boston Braves (1930) and Frank Robinson of the Cincinnati Reds (1956) for the senior circuit mark.
Only two American League rookies have ever hit more home runs — Mark McGwire holds the major league record with 49 homers for the Oakland A’s (1987), and Aaron Judge has 43 home runs and counting this season for the New York Yankees.
Bellinger leads all National League rookies in home runs (38), RBI (87), runs scored (83), slugging percentage (.612) and OPS (.970), and is second in stolen bases (10) and third in walks (56).
His 38 home runs are the most hit by any Dodger — rookie or otherwise — since Matt Kemp hit 39 in 2011. The 38 home runs are the 15th-most hit in any season by a Dodger, with Bellinger the youngest of the group:
Most home runs in a season, Dodgers
| Player | Year | Age | HR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Year | Age | HR |
| Shawn Green | 2001 | 28 | 49 |
| Adrian Beltre | 2004 | 25 | 48 |
| Duke Snider | 1956 | 29 | 43 |
| Gary Sheffield | 2000 | 31 | 43 |
| Duke Snider | 1953 | 26 | 42 |
| Gil Hodges | 1954 | 30 | 42 |
| Duke Snider | 1955 | 28 | 42 |
| Shawn Green | 2002 | 29 | 42 |
| Roy Campanella | 1953 | 31 | 41 |
| Gil Hodges | 1951 | 27 | 40 |
| Duke Snider | 1954 | 27 | 40 |
| Duke Snider | 1957 | 30 | 40 |
| Mike Piazza | 1997 | 28 | 40 |
| Matt Kemp | 2011 | 26 | 39 |
| Cody Bellinger | 2017 | 21 | 38 |
The last Dodger to hit 40 home runs was Adrian Beltre, with 48 home runs in 2004.