Bellinger's Back on the Clock: Yankees Slugger Cleared for Rehab Revenge Tour
TORONTO — The wait is almost over, Yankees fans. Cody Bellinger is officially punching the clock for a rehab assignment Tuesday, and if all goes according to plan, the Bronx Bombers could have their man back in the lineup as soon as next weekend.
Manager Aaron Boone dropped the news Sunday, confirming that Bellinger — who's been shelved since July 26 with a strained left hamstring — will suit up Tuesday and Thursday, likely with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Consider it the final hurdle before the big return.
Numbers Don't Lie
Before the injury, Bellinger was doing exactly what the Yankees paid him to do: slashing .259 with 11 homers and 53 RBIs across 102 games. And let's not forget that shiny 2026 All-Star Game MVP trophy he snagged in Philadelphia. This isn't just a role player coming back — this is a guy who can flip a postseason series.
New York didn't fork over $162.5 million over five years for him to sit in the dugout. They need his bat, his glove, and that championship-caliber swagger back in the lineup.
Judge Watch: Progress Report
The other big-name comeback tour is also rolling. Aaron Judge is scheduled to throw and run in New York on Sunday, Boone said. Judge has been out since May 31 with a broken right rib, but Friday marked a major milestone: his first throwing session since landing on the injured list.
No timetable for Judge's return just yet, but the machine is cranking back up.
Rodón Rolling
And there's more good news on the pitching front. Carlos Rodón (elbow) is expected to make a minor league rehab start Tuesday, though Boone didn't specify which affiliate. Rodón has already made two minor league starts this month — one at Triple-A, one at Double-A Somerset — so the lefty is clearly building back up for a stretch-run boost.
The Yankees are getting healthy at the exact right time. And the rest of the American League should be terrified.