Yankees lose Cody Bellinger for four to six weeks with hamstring strain
New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger will be sidelined for four to six weeks after suffering a Grade 2 left hamstring strain during Saturday’s victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.
Manager Aaron Boone confirmed the recovery timeframe on Monday, following the player’s placement on the 10-day injured list.
The recent All-Star Game Most Valuable Player felt tightness late in the 3-1 win and was subsequently replaced in the eighth inning.
Growing injury crisis in the Bronx
This latest setback exacerbates an escalating injury crisis for the American League East franchise ahead of next month’s trade deadline.
New York are already operating without captain Aaron Judge, who has missed nearly two months with a fractured rib, and veteran slugger Giancarlo Stanton.
The team currently sit three games behind the first-place Tampa Bay Rays in their divisional standings.
Jones recalled as Boone demands resilience
In response to the sudden roster vacancy, highly-rated prospect Spencer Jones has been recalled from Triple-A affiliate Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
“Just got to mix and match and piece it together,” Boone said.
“We have capable guys. We’re going out there expecting to win.”
Lucrative contract and recent slump
The defensive standout secured a lucrative five-year contract worth $162.5m (£126m) last winter and remains a crucial component of the team’s lineup.
Despite leading the major leagues with 19 defensive runs saved this season, his offensive production has waned significantly in recent weeks.
After hitting a respectable .280 through mid-June, a sustained slump dropped his batting average to .259, and he has failed to hit a home run in over a month.