A Yankee has won All-Star Game MVP for the second time in five years.
Cody Bellinger took home the hardware after the American League's ho-hum 4-0 win over the National League in Tuesday's Midsummer Classic, becoming the first Yankee to do so since Giancarlo Stanton won the award in 2022, when the game was played in his hometown ballpark at Dodger Stadium.
Bellinger provided the bulk of the scoring in a game that saw nearly no offense after the first inning. The Yankee outfielder stepped in with the bases loaded in the top of the first and laced a line drive single up the middle against Phillies ace Christopher Sanchez, plating the first two runs of the game. Teammate Ben Rice followed with a single in nearly the same spot as Bellinger's, scoring a third run to give the AL an immediate 3-0 lead before their pitching took over the rest of the way.
Bellinger finished with a single and two RBI in three at-bats.
With the MVP honor, Bellinger became the fourth Yankee in franchise history to win the award, joining Stanton, Mariano Rivera in his final All-Star Game in 2013, and Derek Jeter in 2000, when he made baseball history by becoming the first player in the sport to win All-Star Game and World Series MVP in the same season.
Tuesday night was Bellinger's first All-Star appearance since he won National League MVP with the Dodgers in 2019.
Bellinger provided the bulk of the offense for the American League in an easy win.
Bellinger provided the bulk of the offense for the American League in an easy win.
