Who is Cody Bellinger's father Clay? Know all about the ex-Yankees 2x World Series champion currently working as a firefighter

The New York Yankees acquired the services of former National League MVP Cody Bellinger from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for Cody Poteet and cash considerations. Bellinger's arrival at the Bronx was seen as a domino effect after the Cubs had signed former Astros slugger Kyle Tucker — a made move to balance the books.

Bellinger will be paid $25 million in the upcoming season and has an opt-out clause after the 2025 season. His contract ends at the conclusion of the 2026 season.

What might be amiss to some is that Cody Bellinger is a second-generation Yankee. His father, Clay Bellinger, played for the team during their era of dominance in the late 1990s and the turn of the new millenium.

"It’s a family thing … Cody Bellinger’s dad, Clay, hit his first Major League home run with the Yankees." - @ MLB

Cody's dad Clay Bellinger was selected by the San Francisco Giants as the 44th overall pick in the 1989 MLB Draft. Clay spent 10 years in the minors before debuting for the New York Yankees on Apr. 9, 1999, at the ripe age of 30.

Clay won two World Series titles with the Yankees in his three-year stint from '99 to '01. His biggest moment came in Game 2 of the 2000 Subway Series Fall Classic when he stole a home run from Mets infielder Todd Zeile.

Clay Bellinger is also one of a few players in Yankee history to have played all field positions except catcher and pitcher.

His last season in the majors was in 2002 with the Anaheim Angels before returning to the minors and retiring from in 2004. He transitioned into coaching, serving as an assistant for the Chandler, Arizona, Little League team that competed in the 2007 Little League World Series.

In 2017, Clay became a firefighter in the Gilbert Fire Department in Gilbert, Arizona and has been with the department since then.

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Clay and Cody Bellinger join exclusive company

With Cody Bellinger's signing with the Yanks, the former NL MVP and his father Clay became the fourth father-son duo to don the famous Yankee insignia and pinstripes.

The first father-son Yankee duo was Hall of Famer Yogi Berra and his son Dale Berra. Yogi was one of the most iconic players in league history. In 1985, he and son Dale made history when Dale made his debut during his father's tenure as captain.

Ron Davis and Ike Davis also features in the father-son tandem category. Ron debuted in MLB with the Yankees in 1978 and became an All-Star hurler in his three seasons with the club. His son, Ike, though, only had a brief stint in 2016, playing eight games.

Before Cody Bellinger and his dad Clay, the Berras and the Davises, are the Leiters. Mark Leiter had a brief stint with the Bombers in 1990, making his major league debut. He went on to play 12 seasons in the league. His son, Mark Jr., landed at the Bronx during the 2024 MLB trade deadline from the Chicago Cubs.

In a fun twist of coincidence, both Cody Bellinger and Mark Leiter Jr. are the first second-generation Yankee players scheduled to play for the team at the same time. The similarities don't end there, as both were acquired via trade from their previous employers — the Cubs — and both their fathers made their debuts with the Yankees.