The Chicago Cubs lost a major piece of their lineup on Wednesday. Manager Craig Counsell announced during a radio interview that Cody Bellinger will go on the IL with two fractured ribs.
Cody Bellinger Headed to IL with Fractured Ribs
Counsell reported Bellinger’s injury as a right rib fracture, but a CT scan later revealed two cracked ribs on his right side. With two broken ribs, it will be harder to gauge the time it will take to heal. As such, there is currently no timetable for Bellinger’s return.
With Bellinger’s injury, the Cubs are losing one of their best hitters. The 28-year-old outfielder re-signed with the Cubs for 3 years and $80 million after a prolonged free agency this past offseason. While several teams were in the mix as landing spots for him, he went unsigned into late February. So far this season, Bellinger is hitting .226 with five homers, 17 RBI, and a .760 OPS. He is coming off a 2023 season in which he finished 1oth in National League MVP voting and took home a Silver Slugger. Given the nature of the injury, it is possible Bellinger could miss weeks or months, leaving a significant hole in the middle of the Cubs lineup.
Pete Crow-Armstrong, who got his first taste of major league action in 13 games last September, will be called up from Triple-A Iowa to take Bellinger’s roster spot. A highly-touted prospect, he will look to take advantage of his call-up and cement himself on the big-league roster. Crow-Armstrong is not the only young gun looking to make an early impact on the Cubs this season. On Tuesday, Chicago called up one-time top prospect Matt Mervis from Triple-A Iowa as well. Like Crow-Armstrong, he gained his first big-league experience last season, playing in 27 games and getting 90 at-bats for the Cubs. The pressure will be on these two youngsters, along with the rest of the Cubs’ lineup, to aggregately replace Bellinger’s offensive output in his absence.
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