CHICAGO — Cody Bellinger reached a milestone on Thursday night that linked his name with one of the New York Yankees’ most beloved captains.
The outfielder hit his 222nd career home run in the Yankees’ 10-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field, tying Don Mattingly for 319th place on Major League Baseball’s all-time home run list. The blast, his 26th of the season, came in the first inning and traveled 396 feet to right field, helping New York secure its fifth straight win.
Cody Bellinger finished the night with three hits, continuing his hot stretch since joining the Yankees last winter. At 29 years old, the former MVP has quickly become a central figure in New York’s push for October.
The Yankees have now homered in six consecutive games, belting 18 during that span. Against Chicago, Bellinger and Trent Grisham hit two-run shots while Jazz Chisholm Jr. added a solo homer, giving New York another multi-homer performance.
Will Warren earned the win, working five innings and allowing four runs on five hits. He improved to 8-6 as the Yankees maintained their lead in the American League East. The club’s record rose to 73-60 with Thursday’s victory.
Bellinger fills crucial role after Soto departure
Cody Bellinger’s milestone comes in a season when his presence has carried added weight. After Juan Soto signed a historic 15-year, $765 million deal with the crosstown New York Mets, the Yankees needed a new middle-of-the-order threat.
“There’s no denying what Juan Soto brought to this team last year,” Bellinger said earlier this season. “Just his ability to get on base, the presence in the lineup. I don’t think it’s a matter of replacing him, I think it’s a matter of coming out and just understanding what I can do.”
The Yankees spent $74.6 million on several additions, including Bellinger, Paul Goldschmidt, Max Fried, and Devin Williams. Soto alone accounts for $61.2 million against the Mets’ luxury tax payroll. The Yankees’ diversified spending has kept them competitive while avoiding the single-player commitment the Mets absorbed.
Comparing Bellinger and Mattingly careers
Bellinger’s 222nd home run ties him with Mattingly, who played his entire 14-year career in pinstripes. Mattingly retired with 2,153 hits, a .307 batting average, nine Gold Gloves, three Silver Sluggers, the 1984 batting title, and the 1985 American League MVP Award.
Despite his accomplishments, Mattingly is often remembered as the best Yankee never to appear in a World Series, as his career fell during the club’s longest championship drought since the Babe Ruth era. His No. 23 was retired by the Yankees, and his Monument Park plaque describes him as “a humble man of grace and dignity, a captain who led by example.”
Bellinger’s résumé carries different highlights. He won the 2019 National League MVP Award with the Dodgers and earned a World Series ring with Los Angeles in 2020. He added a Silver Slugger in 2023 while with the Cubs, when he hit 26 homers and finished 10th in MVP voting.
Yankees family connection continues
The milestone also strengthens Bellinger’s family ties to the Yankees. His father, Clay Bellinger, played for New York from 1999 to 2001 and won two World Series championships. Cody now represents the fourth father-son duo in Yankees history, adding to the franchise’s long legacy of baseball lineage.
Bellinger has settled into his role in the Bronx. He entered Thursday with a three-game hitting streak and now ranks 28th in MLB with 25 home runs and 81 RBI. His steady production has been critical in keeping the Yankees’ lineup among the most powerful in baseball.
Strong team performance continues
For Bellinger, the milestone symbolizes both personal achievement and his seamless transition into Yankees history. By joining Mattingly at 222 career homers, he has placed himself beside one of the most respected players ever to wear pinstripes.
The Yankees’ surge since the trade deadline has been fueled by both new acquisitions and returning stars. Their lineup has consistently generated runs, while the defense and depth have improved.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone and the front office have pointed to balance as the key difference this season. Former pitcher David Cone noted the roster has become “much more well-rounded defensively” while maintaining its identity as a power-hitting team.
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