New York Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger has struggled since returning from the 10-day injured list, recording just four hits in his last 23 at-bats across five games.
Bellinger missed nearly a month while recovering from a Grade 2 left hamstring strain suffered while running the bases in July. Despite the recent slump, his second season with the Yankees has been successful overall.
After re-signing with New York during the offseason on a five-year, $162.5 million contract worth $162.5 million, Bellinger earned an All-Star selection for his first-half performance and was named All-Star Game MVP.
Yankees manage Cody Bellinger’s workload
The Yankees played a doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox on Saturday in a series with major postseason implications. If the teams require a tiebreaker, the club that wins the regular-season series will receive home-field advantage.
New York lost the first game 6-0. Bellinger recorded a hit, but it was not enough to prevent the shutout loss.
For the second game, manager Aaron Boone removed Bellinger from the starting lineup and inserted rookie Spencer Jones in his place. However, the decision was part of the Yankees’ plan for Bellinger’s return.
Speaking with reporters earlier in the week, Boone had already said that Bellinger would play only one of the two games in the series, according to Gary Phillips of NY Daily News Sports.
The Yankees do not want to push Bellinger too quickly as he continues rebuilding his game speed following the left hamstring injury. Jones gives New York a reliable short-term replacement, while Bellinger remains available off the bench as a potential left-handed pinch hitter in Game 2.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Aug. 29, 2026, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
