Yankees Star Cody Bellinger to Miss Games Due to Back Injury

Bellinger ruled out for Sunday's Spring Training game against the Phillies

Mar. 3, 2026 at 12:47am

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New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger has suffered a back injury and will miss a couple of games, including Sunday's Spring Training matchup against the Philadelphia Phillies. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Bellinger's injury is not considered serious and he could return as soon as Tuesday when the team faces the Boston Red Sox.

Why it matters

Bellinger is a key offensive piece for the Yankees, having signed a five-year, $162.5 million contract in the offseason. The team is taking a cautious approach with his recovery to ensure he is healthy for the start of the regular season.

The details

Bellinger pulled up his back and missed Saturday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays. He has been ruled out for Sunday's Spring Training game against the Phillies, but the Yankees expect him to return as soon as Tuesday when they face the Red Sox. In Bellinger's absence, the Yankees have used a mix of outfielders including Marco Luciano, Trent Grisham, and Aaron Judge.

  • Bellinger missed Saturday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays.
  • Bellinger is ruled out for Sunday's Spring Training game against the Philadelphia Phillies.
  • Bellinger's next game action could come on Tuesday when the Yankees face the Boston Red Sox.

The players

Cody Bellinger

A New York Yankees outfielder who recently signed a five-year, $162.5 million contract with the team.

Aaron Boone

The manager of the New York Yankees.

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What they’re saying

“He'll probably be, I'm guessing, a couple days. He was quite a bit better today. Trainers aren't too concerned about it. And this is something that crops up on him every now and then, usually sometime in spring or early in the year.”

— Aaron Boone, Yankees Manager

What’s next

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The takeaway

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