Cody Bellinger Could Return to Yankees Lineup as Soon as Next Weekend

Cody Bellinger could rejoin the Yankees lineup as soon as next weekend, per CBS Sports' Dayn Perry — a timeline that would be welcome news for a New York offense that has been running on fumes since he went down in late July.

Per the report, the Yankees have batted .204/.281/.354 as a team in the stretch following Bellinger's injury. Those are the kinds of numbers that make a front office stare at the ceiling.

What we don't know yet

The return window is framed as a possibility, not a certainty. Per the report, Bellinger is expected to begin a rehab assignment Tuesday, with next weekend representing the optimistic end of that process. Nothing in the material constitutes a club announcement, and the timetable could shift.

The broader picture

Bellinger's potential return arrives while the Yankees are managing a crowded injury ledger. Aaron Judge, per prior reporting, reached the milestone of playing catch for the first time in his rehab process — a meaningful step, though one that still leaves his return well in the distance. Luis Gil, meanwhile, has been on a rehab assignment at High-A and could factor in as a bullpen option down the stretch, per earlier reports.

Bellinger coming back sooner rather than later would at least give New York one piece of its lineup puzzle before the calendar forces any harder decisions.