Cody Bellinger, a three-time All-Star, is set to miss an extended period with a Grade 2 hamstring strain, a brutal blow that will sideline him for 4-6 weeks. This puts the Yankees without three of their top power bats, making their push in a wide-open American League a whole lot tougher.
Yankees’ Powerhouse Lineup Dries Up
New York manager Aaron Boone confirmed Monday that Bellinger’s hamstring injury means he won’t be back until late August or early September, right when the heat of the playoff push usually hits. Bellinger reported tightness in his left hamstring after Saturday’s 3-1 win over the Phillies and was taken out in the eighth inning, then missed Sunday’s matchup. This isn’t just one guy out, either. Superstar Aaron Judge hasn’t played since May with a fractured rib, and Boone said in mid-July he wasn’t even ready to start baseball activities. Slugger Giancarlo Stanton, out since April with a calf strain, got an update on July 20: “no timeline” for a minor-league rehab assignment. Talk about a brutal string of bad luck. This team is 59-46, three games behind the Rays in the AL East, but they’re holding that top AL Wild-Card spot. Can they hang on with all these guys out? That’s the real question.
Who Steps Up While Bellinger is Out?
With Bellinger now on the IL, the Yankees pulled up 25-year-old rookie Spencer Jones from Triple-A. Jones, a first-round pick in 2022, has hit .224 with two home runs and a .677 OPS in his 32 games in the majors this season. Left field is gonna be a rotation between Jones and Max Schuemann, a third-year outfielder who’s rocking a .785 OPS in 35 games. Jasson Dominguez is holding down right field because Judge is still out, but if Judge somehow comes back before Bellinger, Dominguez could slide over to left. The trade deadline is right around the corner too, so the Yankees might be scrambling to grab a low-cost option just to fill the gaps. It’s a huge test for this team’s depth, and honestly, for their coaching staff to figure out how to generate runs without their superstars.
Bellinger is 31, he’ll turn 32 next July 13, 2027. For now, it’s a waiting game for the Yankees to see if their depth guys can keep them in the race. This team needs someone to catch fire or they’re gonna find themselves in a real hole when Bellinger is finally cleared to play.
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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