Cody Bellinger response to Clayton Kershaw news should show his importance to Yankees

New York Yankees fans know a thing or two about rooting for future Hall of Famers. Whether it was Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, or other special players in recent years, Yankees fans understand the joy attached to watching individual greatness up close.

That understanding also allows for the appreciation of greatness from afar — namely, in the form of other teams’ all-time great players. And with news of Clayton Kershaw’s imminent retirement still fresh, Yankees fans are, at the end of the day, full of appreciation for the legendary left-hander.

That’s precisely why the Yankees' faithful will recognize the golden nature of Cody Bellinger’s recent comments on Kershaw. Bellinger began his career alongside Kershaw as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and it’s clear that Belli treasures that experience.

Yankees’ Cody Bellinger has nothing but love and praise for Clayton Kershaw

Following Kershaw’s emotional announcement this week, players across MLB reacted to the weighty news of a true baseball legend moving on from the game.

Testaments to Kershaw were most meaningful and interesting coming from the guys he’s shared a clubhouse with, and Bellinger is certainly on that list.

Bellinger spent his first six MLB seasons with Kershaw on the Dodgers. There was a ton of winning that took place during that span, too. The Dodgers reached the World Series in three out of Belli’s first four seasons in the majors. He earned a World Series ring with Los Angeles in 2020.

And based on Bellinger’s comments this week, he feels that Kershaw was at the very center of all of the Dodgers’ success. That's a true teammate for you.

“He was a big part of that team and all our teams,’’ Bellinger said on Thursday, per the New York Post’s Dan Martin. “The way he carries himself. I sat back, watched and learned: This is what it’s supposed to look like. When he took the ball every fifth day, he had a presence. He was the hardest working dude in the room. He had an unmatched work ethic.”

The departure of Kershaw from MLB is a sad development, no doubt. However, Kershaw has to be satisfied with the sort of epic resumé that he accumulated over the years, as it will surely stand out in the history of the sport.

Beyond his absurd numbers and accolades, Kershaw’s impact on his teammates is another measure of his success. It sounds like he had a profound impact on Bellinger, who — despite a rollercoaster career full of soaring highs and down years — has ultimately emerged as a consummate professional, a reliable star with a presence of his own that Yankees fans are hoping sticks around in pinstripes for years to come.

And as the Yankees approach the 2025 playoffs, perhaps some of Kershaw’s championship DNA is still rubbing off on the outfielder. 

“Being able to get into the playoffs is very important,” Bellinger said on Thursday, per Martin. “It’s fun. It’s why you play the game. To be playing meaningful games in September, that’s all you can ask for. That’s something I’ve known for a long time.”