Cody Bellinger earns All-Star Game MVP award

PHILADELPHIA – Cody Bellinger stood near home plate late on Tuesday evening, receiving the Ted Williams All-Star Game MVP Award from Phillies Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt. His attention kept drifting a few feet away to his young daughters, Caiden and Cy, who played in the Citizens Bank Park batters’ boxes. This image captured the moment: the Yankees outfielder holding a trophy while his girls had dirt on theirs.

In the 2026 All-Star Game, the American League secured a 4-0 victory, highlighted by a three-run first inning. Bellinger participated in the game for the first time since 2019, hitting a crucial two-run single against the Phillies’ Cristopher Sánchez. At 31 years old, Bellinger became the fourth Yankee to earn All-Star MVP honors, joining Giancarlo Stanton (2022), Derek Jeter (2000), and Mariano Rivera (‘13).

“It’s special, man,” Bellinger expressed. “Wearing this jersey, I feel proud wearing it. It comes with a lot. I just try to put my best foot forward every day and give it everything I’ve got.” Bellinger, who was selected to the All-Star Game twice within his first three seasons with the Dodgers, admitted that he had previously assumed he would continue to attend annually. “I was like, ‘Oh, I’ll be here every year,’” he recounted. “It took a long time to get back. It’s such a competitive league. It’s hard to be an All-Star. Health, performance, it all has to come together.”

Bellinger’s progress followed a right shoulder injury in 2020, leading to a fluctuating performance until he found stability during a two-year stint with the Cubs. Now, he remains productive in pinstripes, reminiscent of the jersey worn by his father, Clay, during the Yankees’ last dynasty era. During the press conference at Citizens Bank Park, Clay Bellinger watched from the back with pride as Cody spoke about his family. “You always hope for your kids to do well, whether that’s playing baseball or doing whatever they like to do,” Clay noted. “He’s been pretty good at it for quite a long time, so yeah, it’s fun.”

Bellinger’s hit made way for a similarly crucial RBI from teammate Ben Rice, contributing to a crowd-quieting performance against an audience that had booed Bellinger and Rice before the game. “That’s what makes Philly great,” Bellinger said. “They love their team. Coming in, it’s always a tough atmosphere, but you’ve just got to be ready for it.”

This year marked the first time since 1962 that the Yankees had two players with at least one RBI in the All-Star Game, replicating a feat set by Roger Maris and Tom Tresh. Rice remarked that it was enjoyable to hit behind Bellinger rather than the other way around. “Seeing him driving in those two runs early from the on-deck circle, I was so fired up for him,” Rice expressed, sharing his joy for Bellinger and his family, especially as they walked the red carpet together.

Bellinger donated his bat from the All-Star Game to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. While he had not anticipated that his first-inning single would be MVP-worthy, he acknowledged the dominance of the pitching staff during the game. “The pitching was just dominant today,” he noted, adding that team members encouraged him to keep his jersey on in case he earned the MVP.

Prior to the first pitch, Bellinger’s family participated in the Red Carpet Parade, but he cherished the moment where his daughters hugged Rice after his performance in the T-Mobile Home Run Derby. By the end of the evening, the Bellinger family had made lasting memories and added a trophy to their collection. “The kids are so tired, but it was so fun, man,” Bellinger reflected. “I don’t know how much they’re going to remember, but I’m going to remember it all.