Cody Bellinger remained out of the Yankees’ starting lineup for the second consecutive game on Saturday as he continues to deal with a minor back issue. But the outfielder doesn’t anticipate the absence lasting much longer.
“Feel really good with where I’m at right now,” Bellinger said Saturday afternoon in the visiting clubhouse at PNC Park.
Cody Bellinger sits again with back issue but expects quick return
The 29-year-old first felt tightness in his back during Thursday’s game and has been sidelined since. He said this type of injury isn’t new to him, calling it a “few-day thing” that he’s managed multiple times over the course of his career.
Cody Bellinger described the discomfort as a feeling of “unalignment” in his lower back, near his right hip along the belt line. He said it can flare up occasionally but is usually manageable with proper treatment, including core exercises and soft-tissue work.
“It’s feeling good, responded well,” Bellinger said. “I just took some swings, so I feel really good where I’m at right now.”
Cody Bellinger didn’t have a clear explanation for why the issue flared up again, though he suggested the cold weather in New York during the Yankees’ season-opening homestand might have played a role.
“Tough to really say the exact reason,” he said. “Felt it tighten up a little bit. But I like where I’m at right now.”
He emphasized the need to be more proactive moving forward: “I’ve got to do a better job of preventing it in the future.”
Although Cody Bellinger was not in Saturday’s lineup, he was expected to be available off the bench and said a return to the starting lineup on Sunday was a possibility.
In the meantime, Trent Grisham got the start in center field once again, batting ninth. Grisham has made the most of his opportunities this week, entering Saturday hitting .462 with a 1.357 OPS across 17 plate appearances. He had three hits in Thursday’s win over the Diamondbacks, then added a hit and two walks in Friday’s series opener against the Pirates.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone shared a similarly positive outlook regarding Bellinger’s status.
“I know there’s been incremental improvement the last couple days,” Boone said. “Hopefully available in some way today and hopefully back in there [Sunday].”
Cody Bellinger, who signed with the Yankees this offseason, has appeared in just a handful of games to start the year. The team is hopeful his absence is indeed limited to just a few days and that he can quickly return to his role in the heart of the lineup.
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