PHILADELPHIA — Already without Aaron Judge, the Yankees may be down another key outfielder, as Cody Bellinger left Saturday’s 3-1 win over the Phillies with left hamstring tightness.
Bellinger suffered the injury running to second base on his two-out double in the top of the eighth.
After sliding into second and appearing hobbled, Bellinger waved off the trainers and remained in the game.
But he was replaced in left field by Max Schuemann in the bottom of the inning and will likely undergo tests Sunday — with an IL stint not ruled out.
“I felt something rounding first and it got tight and thought it was smart to get out [of the game],’’ Bellinger said. “We’ll see how I feel [Sunday].”
Bellinger added, “I really don’t think it’s anything too serious.”
Cody Bellinger exited with an apparent injury during the Yankees’ July 25 game. Screengrab via X/@TalkinYanks
Still, Aaron Boone noted the possibility they could lose Bellinger for an extended stretch and acknowledged he was “alarmed” by it.
“It looks like it could be something,’’ the manager said.
The left fielder spent time on the IL in 2021 due to left hamstring tightness while with the Dodgers, missing 10 games.
Schuemann would likely be in the lineup Sunday against Philadelphia lefty Cristopher Sánchez.
After that, Boone said, “We’ll do what we have to do [and] piece it together … [Bellinger] is a huge member of the team. He’s a tremendous all-around player. I hope it’s on the minor side.”
Cody Bellinger slides into second base after hitting a double during the Yankees’ July 25 win. Getty Images
If Bellinger has to sit out, it comes at an inopportune time for the Yankees.
He’s hit better over his last dozen games after slumping at the plate for most of the past month.
Bellinger entered Saturday with just five extra-base hits, all doubles, in his previous 30 games.
His OPS over that span was .535 after posting an .860 OPS in his first 71 games.
Prior to the injury Saturday, he had an RBI single and then the double in the win.
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“I felt good from Washington on,’’ Bellinger said of the final series heading into the All-Star break. “The cold stretch there was way longer than I wanted it to be.”
And Bellinger has continued to be superb in left field.
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“He’s been so good out there,’’ Boone said before the game. “I’ve leaned more on leaving him there on days instead of moving him to center or right. His left field [play] is so stellar.”
The Yankees offense has taken a serious downturn in recent weeks, with the indefinite loss of Judge due to a fractured rib taking a toll.
While Bellinger hasn’t maintained his torrid early pace at the plate, his presence in the middle of the lineup is still crucial.