Yankees Lose Cody Bellinger for 4-6 Weeks With Grade 2 Hamstring Strain

All-Star outfielder Cody Bellinger will miss four to six weeks of action following a Grade 2 left hamstring strain sustained during a 3-1 victory over the Phillies.

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone confirmed Monday that All-Star outfielder Cody Bellinger will miss four to six weeks due to a Grade 2 left hamstring strain. The injury occurred late in the Yankees' 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday night, forcing Bellinger to exit the contest in the bottom of the eighth inning. After feeling tightness in the muscle, the outfielder was officially placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday and remained sidelined during a subsequent loss to Philadelphia.

Bellinger enters this recovery period with a .259 batting average, 11 home runs, and 53 RBIs through 102 games this season. Defensively, he leads the major leagues with 19 defensive runs saved. The outfielder, who signed a five-year, $162.5 million contract last winter, was recently named the MVP of the All-Star Game held on July 14 in Philadelphia. Despite his early-season success, including a .280 average through mid-June, he entered the All-Star break hitting .254 and has not recorded a home run in one month.

Roster Adjustments and Injury Backlog

To address the vacancy on the active roster, the Yankees recalled outfielder Spencer Jones from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre prior to Sunday night’s game. The club is currently navigating significant absences as the trade deadline approaches next week. New York has played without slugger Aaron Judge since May 31, when he suffered a fractured rib. Additionally, designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton remains unavailable due to a strained right calf, an injury that has kept him out of the lineup since April 24.

Boone addressed the media ahead of Monday’s matchup against the Chicago White Sox, noting that Bellinger is currently able to move around as the healing process begins. The manager emphasized that while the team has lost important contributors, the situation provides an opportunity for other players to develop and perform at a high level. The Yankees entered Monday’s schedule trailing the first-place Tampa Bay Rays by three games in the American League East standings.

Statistical Impact on the Yankees Lineup

Bellinger’s absence removes a primary defensive anchor from the outfield. His 19 defensive runs saved represent the highest mark in MLB this year. Offensively, the Yankees must replace a player who was a central figure in the order despite a recent slump that saw his average dip to .254 before the break. The team is now forced to weather a storm of injuries to three of its most prominent offensive threats simultaneously.

Prior to his exit on Saturday, Bellinger had been a key component of the offense that secured the two-run win over Philadelphia. The Yankees are now tasked with plugging holes in the lineup created by the combined absences of Bellinger, Judge, and Stanton as they attempt to close the three-game gap in the divisional race. The team will allow the hamstring to heal fully before reintegrating the All-Star into the daily rotation.