Former Dodgers OF Cody Bellinger Wins NL Player of the Month Award

A familiar face adds to his trophy case.

Cody Bellinger looks like himself again. Unfortunately, it's not in a Dodgers uniform.

The 2019 NL MVP brought home the July Player of the Month award after a month that looked like vintage Bellinger, and his AL counterpart isn't too shabby, either.

Shohei Ohtani: .282 AVG, 1.152 OPS, 9 HR, 14 RBI
Cody Bellinger: .400 AVG, 1.122 OPS, 8 HR, 24 RBI

Your AL and NL @Chevrolet Players of the Month for July! pic.twitter.com/jkbTKFHx9t

— MLB (@MLB) August 2, 2023

I mean honestly though, if you get your face put up next to Shohei Ohtani, you've got to be doing something right.

Bellinger is having a bounce back year after his last two seasons in LA didn't quite go his way. 

The two-time All-Star is batting .317 on the year which, if the season ended after July, would be a career high. 

His latest home run on Tuesday night actually broke the right field scoreboard at Wrigley Field!

Cody Bellinger damaged the scoreboard! pic.twitter.com/FKykhugNzd

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) August 2, 2023

The former Dodger could be a free agent at season's end, because his contract with the Cubs includes a mutual option for 2024. And with the way he's playing this season, the suitors might be lining up already to sign him for more than what he's making now.

There was tons of speculation on whether he'd be moved at the deadline, but the Cubs decided to stick with him through the end of the season just to see if they can get some of that vintage Cody Bellinger playoff magic on their side.

The fact that Bellinger could bat .400 in a month after what we saw him do the last two years in LA just seems baffling. 

If you think about it though, the shoulder injury held him back in 2021, and problems with his swing in 2022 were the main reasons why Bellinger didn't quite look the same as his 2019 and 2020 self. 

I'm glad that he's finding his way again, as he seems to have had a renaissance in Chicago, and I wouldn't be surprised for him to buy into that mutual option to stay there in 2024 as well.

What do you think, if Bellinger opts out, should the Dodgers push for another reunion with a fan favorite player?