Bellinger 'feeling more comfortable' despite spring struggles

Cody Bellinger had one of MLB's worst 2021 campaigns, and things haven't improved much for the Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder this spring, either.

Despite his struggles, the 2019 National League MVP remains optimistic about correcting his issues at the plate.

"I'm feeling more comfortable where I've had a lot of success in the past," Bellinger said Sunday, according to Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times. "It's all about finding that approach, and like I said, I feel closer than what it looks."

After hitting .165 with a 45 OPS+ last season, the 26-year-old entered Monday's contest against the Arizona Diamondbacks with 14 strikeouts in 19 at-bats. He's continuously tinkered with his swing and stance this spring in an attempt to rediscover some of his old success.

The Arizona native said he feels far better than he did a season ago when frequent injuries drained his strength and caused him to lose confidence. It wasn't until the postseason - when he sacrificed his power stroke for one that allowed for better contact - that he started to improve.

"Believe it or not, I'm actually feeling a lot better than the results are saying,” he said. "That's real. That's what spring training is about, obviously. You don't want to do what I'm doing, but I feel better than what the stat sheets are showing."

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts still foresees Bellinger being a part of the starting lineup, although he hopes his player's lack of success doesn't leak into the regular season.

"The performance is up to Cody," Roberts said. "It's our job as coaches to create an environment and the work to allow him to succeed. But at the end of the day, he's the one in the batter's box. He knows that, and he's got to produce. He's a big part of what we want to do this year."