Chicago Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger finds himself in a tough spot with two fractured ribs, landing him on the 10-day injured list, according to manager Craig Counsell's announcement on Wednesday. The mishap occurred during Tuesday's game when Bellinger slammed into the center-field wall while tracking a fly ball hit by Houston's Yainer Diaz, which turned into a double, allowing Kyle Tucker to score. He had to exit the game an inning later.
Initially, after Tuesday's game, Counsell reported that Bellinger's X-rays looked clear. However, a CT scan on Wednesday revealed the unfortunate injury. Counsell mentioned that there's no clear timeline for his return yet, emphasizing that Bellinger needs to be symptom-free before they can gauge the next steps. Despite the setback, Counsell expressed optimism, noting that Bellinger woke up feeling good and is eager to start working on his return.
To fill Bellinger's spot, the Cubs have called up Pete Crow-Armstrong, their top prospect. Bellinger, who was on a seven-game hitting streak, was batting .226 with five home runs and 17 RBIs before the injury.
Crow-Armstrong, 22, made his MLB debut last September and went 0-for-14 with three walks. Currently, he's hitting .203 with two home runs, five doubles, and seven RBIs at Triple-A Iowa this season.
Bellinger's injury adds to the Cubs' woes, as outfielder Seiya Suzuki is also on the injured list due to a right oblique strain. However, there's some positive news on Suzuki's front, as he has resumed baseball activities and could be heading for a rehab assignment shortly after the team returns from their upcoming seven-game road trip.
Manager Counsell acknowledged the impact of losing players like Bellinger and Suzuki, stating that it's natural for the offense to take a hit. However, he remains hopeful that the team can minimize the effects of their absences as much as possible, highlighting the depth and capability of the team to weather these challenges.
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