Before the All-Star break in July, the Chicago Cubs showed signs of life when they went to Baltimore. They walked right into Camden Yards and swept the Orioles. It was an impressive feat for a team struggling as much as they had been. But even in a sweep, the Cubs suffered a significant loss when Cody Bellinger was hit by a pitch.
A pitch to the middle finger of Bellinger’s left hand put him on the injured list again in 2024. Earlier in the year, a collision with the ivy-covered bricks in left-center field fractured multiple ribs and kept him out of action for two weeks. After fracturing his finger in Baltimore, Bellinger was kept out of action for almost three weeks.
Cody Bellinger’s injury came at an inopportune time for the Cubs. As the calendar flipped to July and the Cubs showed no signs of flipping the switch and competing, trade talk heated up again on the North Side of Chicago. Bellinger’s name came up often, even in a season where he was not playing his best.
Whether the injury kept suitors away or the Cubs decided to take a different approach at the trade deadline, Bellinger stayed. He returned to action on July 30th in Cincinnati, but not at full strength. Since returning, he has only served as the Cubs’ designated hitter because the finger is still bothering him. The Cubs have given an update on his healing progress.
“When he tries to make throws with intent, it’s not very enjoyable. That’s the best way to say it. We’re making progress. It’s just, it’s going a little slower.”
Craig Counsell on Cody Bellinger’s injury status, via Jordan Bastain on cubs.com
Chicago Cubs Manager Craig Counsell confirmed on Monday that Cody Bellinger will remain in his reserved role as the designated hitter, at least through the end of their series with the Minnesota Twins. Counsell went on to say Bellinger still feels pain when he tries to throw a baseball. If he’s having pain throwing a baseball, he has to feel it swinging, too.
But don’t tell Bellinger that. Since returning, he has been batting .321 with two home runs and an OPS of .881. Even though he is feeling pain, Bellinger is able to capitalize with a shorter, more compact swing to relieve some of the pain in his finger. While his versatility is missed in the field, having his bat in the lineup has boosted this Cubs offense.
The Cubs have won six of their last ten games, including three of four against the St. Louis Cardinals over the weekend. They are still quite a ways away from getting back into the thick of a playoff hunt. However, we are seeing glimpses of a complete team at a rate we have not since the beginning of the year.
The Cubs can certainly thank Cody Bellinger for his offense during this stretch. He has contributed in a big way. When he is healthy enough to return to the field, the Cubs will have options defensively in center field and at first base. They’ll also call up reinforcements when the rosters expand in September.
