May 5, 2025
New York Yankees outfielder
Cody Bellinger went 1-for-4 with a walk and a two-run home run in Sunday's 7-5 loss to the Rays. It has been a disappointing season so far for the left-handed slugger who was supposed to be able to take advantage of Yankee Stadium's "short porch" in right field, now with four home runs on the season and pacing for no more than the 18 home runs he hit last season in Chicago. The 18 RBI and 15 runs scored that the former MVP has tallied to this point are fine, but would be higher if he could hit for better than a .200 average in the middle of the Yankee lineup. His current contact rate stands at 77.6, the lowest since 2022, but he's chasing less and walking more, while his barrel and hard-hit rates are above where they've been in a long time, which is at least a sign that maybe he can still turn things around.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 21, 2025
New York Yankees outfielder
Cody Bellinger went 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in Sunday's 4-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. The 29-year-old registered his second home run and third steal of the season. There isn't much getting around it -- Bellinger hasn't been great during his first stint in pinstripes. He currently holds a higher average exit velocity and hard-hit rate than he has in years, but it hasn't translated to production on the field. The 29-year-old is 12-for-67 (.179) with four extra-base hits (one double, one triple) and a .550 OPS. Furthermore, he's striking out 25% of the time after compiling a 15.6% punchout rate over the prior two seasons. Bellinger's BABIP is unusually low (.204), so he may see some positive regression soon. Still, this isn't how he wanted to start his career as a Yankee.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
April 15, 2025
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that outfielder
Cody Bellinger (back) is still getting treatment for his sore back, which is why he was out of the starting lineup for Monday's series opener against the visiting Kansas City Royals. "He's doing well. I just want to pick some spots here, especially getting through 13 (games) in a row here," Boone said. It doesn't sound like anything fantasy managers should be worried about, but they'll want to check back on Tuesday to see if he has returned to the starting lineup. It could also be a big reason for why the 29-year-old left-handed slugger is hitting just .191 (9-for-47) in the early going of his first year in pinstripes with a homer, eight RBI, nine runs scored and two stolen bases in 13 games played. Bellinger also missed some time early last week after dealing with food poisoning.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch
April 14, 2025
New York Yankees outfielder
Cody Bellinger will retreat to the bench for Monday's series opener against the visiting Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium.
Trent Grisham is starting in center field and will bat eighth against Royals right-hander
Seth Lugo. Bellinger missed some time with food poisoning early last week, but he started the last four games for the Yankees after recovering. However, the Yankees are giving the 29-year-old left-handed slugger a day off after his slow start to the 2025 season. In his first 12 games in the Bronx, he has gone 9-for-46 (.196) with a home run, a triple, eight RBI, two steals, nine runs scored, four walks and 15 strikeouts in 53 plate appearances. Grisham has outperformed Bellinger so far with a .344 average, three homers and nine RBI in 32 at-bats, but he's down at the bottom of the batting order and is hitless in just three career at-bats against Lugo.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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