Cody Bellinger placed on IL with grade 2 hamstring strain, out 4-6 weeks

New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger will be out four to six weeks with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain. Bellinger was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday, a day after he was injured while running on the bases during a 3-1 victory at Philadelphia. He underwent further tests Monday in New York that revealed the extent of the injury. “The good thing is he’s obviously able to move around right now,” manager Aaron Boone said before the first game of a four-game series against the Chicago White Sox. “So we’re going to continue to do that and allow this thing to heal and get it back to normal.” The loss of Bellinger is another major injury for a New York team already playing without reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge, who has been out since May 31 with a fractured rib. Designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton has been out since April 24 with a right calf strain. The Yankees trailed AL East leader Tampa Bay by three games heading into Monday’s action. “We had some serious injuries to some very important people,” Boone said. “But again, that’s part of it. Like I said, the season waits for no one.” Max Schuemann started in left field for Game 1 of the series against the White Sox. Spencer Jones, who came up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre when Bellinger was placed on the IL, was at center and Jasson Dominguez was at right. The MLB trade deadline is next week, but Boone downplayed the effect of Bellinger’s injury on the strategy of general manager Brian Cashman and the team’s front office. “I feel like they’ve been working on this in different ways over the last few weeks, preparing for trade deadlines,” Boone said. “I expect them to do everything they can to improve our team, but again, you never know how it’s going to turn out.” Bellinger, 31, felt a hamstring strain while leading off a double in the eighth inning Saturday night. He is batting .259 with 11 homers and 53 RBIs in 102 games this season. Bellinger re-signed with the Yankees last winter for $162.5 million over five years. He was MVP of the All-Star Game on July 14 in Philadelphia. Judge and Stanton are with the team in Chicago, and Boone said Stanton is continuing his progress in racing. “The strength and explosive stuff he’s been doing in the weight room has been really good,” Boone said. “So we just have to get it to an obvious level on the racing side to be able to go.” Left-hander Carlos Rodon and right-hander Clarke Schmidt are both expected to pitch again this week, Boone said. Rodón is returning from elbow inflammation and Schmidt had Tommy John surgery a year ago. Associated Press reporting.