Cody Bellinger is finally heading out for his rehab assignment later this week, a massive sigh of relief for a New York Yankees offense that has been one of the worst clubs in the Majors without him. The All-Star left fielder has been sidelined since July 25 with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, a brutal blow to a team already struggling to produce runs. Now, the former MVP is officially on the mend, and fans have a date to circle for his return to the field, even if it’s not the big league one yet.
The Rehab Trail Begins: Thursday in Scranton
The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner dropped the news we’ve all been waiting for: Bellinger will kick off his rehab assignment this Thursday in Scranton. He’s been limited to light baseball activities up to this point, so getting back into game action is a huge step. Kirschner’s report indicates Bellinger believes he’ll play at least one more game after Thursday, though the full timeline beyond that remains up in the air. Bellinger originally picked up the injury stretching a single into a double during a series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Talk about a tough break, literally. Seeing him back on the diamond, even in the minors, is a major signal that a crucial piece of the Yankees lineup is on its way back.
The Batting Order Needs a Spark, Badly
It’s no secret the Yankees’ offense has been limping without Bellinger, Aaron Judge, and Giancarlo Stanton. They’ve been stuck in the mud, posting some truly anemic numbers across the board. Bellinger, before he went down, was a significant part of their offensive output. The 31-year-old was hitting .259/.350/.420 with 11 home runs, 50 RBIs, and a .770 OPS. He’s stacked up 3.9 bWAR this season, following a strong 5.0 bWAR in 2025. Those are the kind of numbers that transform a lineup from struggling to dangerous. Bellinger isn’t the entire solution, but his bat, his presence, and his ability to put pressure on defenses will undoubtedly provide a much-needed boost to New York’s offense.
This isn’t a magic bullet for the Yankees, but getting a former MVP with Bellinger’s numbers back in the lineup? That’s a jolt the Yankees desperately need to get their bats rolling. Fans are gonna be watching those Scranton box scores hard, waiting for his name back on the big league roster and for that offensive spark to finally return.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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