Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger is target of hug-seeking fan for second consecutive game

Reporting from PHOENIX â€”  For the second day in a row, a Dodgers game was interrupted when a female fan ran onto the field to hug right fielder Cody Bellinger on Monday. Sunday’s incident occurred at Dodger Stadium; Monday’s took place during the eighth inning at Chase Field.

Monday’s offender was arrested for disorderly conduct and trespassing in the third degree, according to an Arizona Diamondbacks spokesperson. She was booked into jail and has been banned from Chase Field indefinitely. The intruder Sunday in Los Angeles was a minor and did not face criminal charges.

Bellinger said he did not suspect the woman meant any harm Monday because, like the young woman Sunday, he noticed she had a phone in her hand. He recalled the woman asking for a hug before security ran her down and escorted her from the field.

“I had a feeling it was definitely a possibility just because it kind of blew up on social media,� Bellinger said after Monday’s game. “I’m just trying to play a game. I don’t think I should have to worry about who’s going to come on the field and whatnot.�

Major League Baseball was in touch with the two clubs after Monday’s incident and adjustments to security were expected, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. Bellinger, however, wasn’t in the Dodgers’ starting lineup Tuesday.

“It kind of gains momentum and then it’s kind of something that attracts more people,� Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “You just worry about Cody in the sense of something harmful gets in people’s heads, so we’ve really got to be mindful of that and it’s unfortunate that he’s now got to worry about people coming on the field.�

Bellinger said he didn’t react to the woman, just standing in place until security guards raced over.

Sign up for our Dodgers newsletter »

“I think it could be dangerous,� Bellinger said. “Although it’s innocent right now, it could be dangerous.�

The 23-year-old Bellinger is a frontrunner for the National League MVP award and is a finalist to start in the All-Star game after leading all players in votes during the first round of voting. He led the majors in batting average (.353) while ranking second in on-base percentage (.466), second in slugging (.702), second in OPS (1.152), and third in home runs (25) entering Tuesday.

A.J. Pollock, Corey Seager are expected back after break

Roberts said the hope is Corey Seager and A.J. Pollock will rejoin the Dodgers right after the All-Star break when the club opens the second half in Boston. Both players are scheduled to play in rehab games during the break.

On Monday, Seager ran and took grounders for the first time since straining his left hamstring June 12. The shortstop was slated to take flips in the batting cage for the first time Tuesday.

“He was running sprints, taking grounders, running up to about 75 percent,� Roberts said. “And I thought he was running really well. Feels really good.�

Pollock took batting practice on the field Tuesday for the first time since going on the injured list April 30 with an infected elbow. Roberts said Pollock will return to center field upon his return.

Short hops

While the Dodgers will travel to Denver on Wednesday night, Scott Alexander is scheduled to remain in Arizona and face hitters at the club’s spring-training facility. The left-hander was put on the injured list June 11 with forearm inflammaton. … First baseman David Freese’s hamstring is “just not responding how we want� to treatment, Roberts said. Freese has been on the injured list since June 23, retroactive to June 21. Roberts said he remains hopeful that Freese can return before the All-Star break.