Craig Counsell gives Cubs’ Cody Bellinger his flowers after 4 for 5 return from IL

Bellinger broke his ribs trying to make a play at the outfield wall earlier this season. It was a truly tough injury for the outfielder, who had been having an excellent season in the Windy City. This year, Bellinger is hitting .268 with 19 runs batted in. He has already posted 97 at-bats, and smashed seven home runs.

The outfielder is being used as a designated hitter for now, as he gets his legs back under him. A 4-for-5 performance will surely get Bellinger back onto the field as soon as possible. The Cubs are in need of his offense, and Bellinger gives them just that. Against the Pirates on Friday, Bellinger sent a fastball more than 300 feet for a home run.

“He had good swings all night,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said of Bellinger, per the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “The fastball wasn’t a bad pitch. Bellinger’s a good player.”

On the season, Chicago is 23-16 and second in the National League Central. The team trails the Milwaukee Brewers in the division by half a game, at time of writing. The Cubs have also won just five of their last 10 games, mostly without their star outfielder. Chicago has certainly missed Bellinger, and not just his offense. The outfielder won a Gold Glove Award in 2019, and plays with just as much effort on defense fielding as he does on offense.

Bellinger is a two-time All-Star, who won a World Series in 2020 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was the National League MVP in 2019. His accolades span years, as the outfielder was also the National League Rookie of the Year when he joined the majors in 2017. He has played for the Dodgers and the Cubs. He has won the Silver Slugger Award as a member of both franchises, taking home that trophy in 2019 and 2023.

Chicago is in action on Saturday against the Pittsburgh Pirates once more. The game is ongoing at the time of writing, with the Cubs trailing. Cubs fans are surely hoping that their outfielder continues the solid production.