November 16th, 2019 at 8:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka It is a title that is not taken lightly – ‘Future Hall of Famer.’
Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw has it. Angels centerfielder Mike Trout has it. Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado has it; as do a handful of others.
But at only 24 years of age and with only three major league seasons under his belt, does 2017 National League Rookie of the Year, 2018 NLCS MVP, 2019 Gold Glove and Silver Slugger winner, and recently named 2019 National League MVP Cody Bellinger deserve this prestigious and lofty title yet?
At risk of ridicule, I say, unequivocally, “Yes.”
A bit premature to put a guy who has played in only 450 major league games and has only 1,595 major league at-bats in the same category as Mike Trout and Nolan Arenado? You bet it is. But then, how long did it take before people – including many so-called baseball experts – began calling Trout and Arenado ‘future Hall of Famers?‘
Here is what Bellinger has accomplished in only three major league seasons:
And what about one-time ‘future Hall of Famer‘ Ted Williams, who achieved baseball immortality when he was enshrined in Cooperstown in 1966 and to whom Bellinger is often compared? At what point did people begin calling ‘The Splendid Splinter’ a ‘future Hall of Famer?’ Was it after his three All-Star appearances in his first four major league seasons? Or after his 1947 American League MVP award in his fifth major league season after having missed three full seasons while serving in the military during World War II?
Do you see where this is going?
(Photo credit – Mark J. Terrill)
The point here is not to put the cart in front of the horse or to bestow such a lofty title on a 24-year-old kid. It is to simply point out that Cody Bellinger is that good and has been that good since his Little League days when he appeared in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA in 2007 as a 12-year-old.
You heard it here first – Cody James Bellinger is a ‘future Hall of Famer.’
Unequivocally.
Play Ball!
* * * * *
Posted in 
Agree! He is an incredible talent, and puts in the work – he wants to be even better. That is what will get him in the HOF.
Spot on assessment. As long as Bellinger continues to work as hard as he has to this point (and there is no reason to believe he won’t), and avoids major injuries then the HOF is not only a shoe-in, but a first ballot is likely.
Yes, he deserves to be spoken of as a future HOF’er at this point. But there are things that could be an impediment to his achieving it. Barring a freak accident or injury; once he gets his inevitable huge long term contract will his work ethic change? His devotion to the game become distracted? It has happened to others. And God forbid he develops chronic physical injuries or issues. But if he manages to avoid those thing and I think he will because he’s very grounded by his family. He’s very likely to enter the Hall when his playing days are done. Congrats in advance Cody!
“You heard it here first – Cody James Bellinger is a ‘future Hall of Famer.”
Sorry Ron, I didn’t hear it here first. Well at least not today.
It’s been plain to see from the start that Bellinger is special. He definitely has ALL five tools My memory continues to get cloudier, but, I believe I’ve heard you mention Bellinger and HOF in the same sentence before.
Bellinger’s trophy case is well stocked and 2019 was definitely a HOF season. If he keeps it up, he’s HOF bound!
He still has to figure out what happened in the second half of 2019. Considering the progress he made from 2018 to the first half of 2019, I have strong faith that he will figure it out.