Yankees outline Bellinger return timeline as offensive struggles persist
Manager Aaron Boone confirms Cody Bellinger will begin minor-league work on Tuesday, with potential activation during the upcoming Toronto series, as the club seeks to stabilise a batting line that has deteriorated significantly since the loss of Aaron Judge.
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone has confirmed that outfielder Cody Bellinger will commence a minor-league rehabilitation assignment on Tuesday, marking the next phase in his recovery from a hamstring strain sustained on 25 July. Boone indicated to media outlets, including The Athletic, that Bellinger is expected to play in two games during the assignment and could be activated for the home series against the Toronto Blue Jays, which begins on 21 August.
The return is viewed as a critical component of the Yankees’ strategy to address an offensive slump that has coincided with the prolonged absence of multiple key players. Since Bellinger’s injury, the team has batted .204/.281/.354 as a collective unit. The situation has been compounded by the ongoing absence of reigning American League MVP Aaron Judge, who has not played since 31 May due to a stress fracture in his rib cage.
The impact of Judge’s absence has been particularly severe for the club’s run production. Since losing their star slugger, the Yankees rank 29th among Major League Baseball’s 30 teams in runs scored. The offensive stagnation was evident in August, where the team managed to score five or more runs in a single game on only three occasions.
Bellinger, who has recorded a 115 OPS+ across 102 games this season and earned his third career All-Star selection, has provided consistent production at the plate and defensive stability in the outfield. His potential return offers a structural boost to a lineup that has struggled to generate consistent scoring threats in his absence.
The Yankees currently hold second place in the American League East with a 68-55 record, trailing the first-place Tampa Bay Rays by six and a half games. While they occupy the top wild-card position in the American League, the margin is tight, with the Boston Red Sox holding the second wild-card spot just two games behind.
Compounding the roster challenges, left-hander Carlos Rodon is also recovering from an elbow injury and is scheduled to make a minor-league rehabilitation start on Tuesday. Additionally, Judge threw and ran in New York for the first time since being placed on the injured list, though Boone provided no specific timetable for his return to the major league roster.
The club remains focused on managing these injuries while maintaining competitive positioning in a crowded division. The activation of Bellinger, contingent on his performance during the rehab assignment, represents a tangible step toward restoring offensive balance as the season enters its final stretch.
