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Cody Bellinger Set for Yankees Rehab Start Thursday or Friday

8/17/2026

26 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Boone Announces Rehab

Yankees manager Aaron Boone announced Cody Bellinger will start minor-league rehab Thursday or Friday.
Bellinger has been on the injured list since July 26 with a left hamstring strain.
Boone previously said Tuesday but corrected the timeline after the Yankees’ 4-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday.
He added Bellinger has no setback, needs a few rehab games, and fans called Boone out.

Summary

Boone Adjusts Lineup

The Yankees’ offense has fallen to a .204/.281/.354 line since Bellinger’s injury.
Bellinger posted a .259 average with 52 homers, 11 RBI, 53 steals and a 115 OPS+ in 102 games.
Manager Boone may shift Heliot Ramos into a right-field platoon with Spencer Jones to make room for Bellinger.
Clarke Schmidt is slated to rejoin the bullpen after forearm cramping ended his live batting practice on Aug. 4.

History

Historical Context

In 2009 the Yankees overcame Alex Rodriguez’s wrist fracture—he missed the season’s final month after posting a .295 average with 30 home runs and 100 RBIs—to win the World Series and finish 103-59. That injury-driven depth lesson informs today’s Aaron Boone, who now faces a lineup slump after Cody Bellinger’s hamstring strain, prompting platoon experiments.

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Boone Announces Rehab

Yankees manager Aaron Boone announced Cody Bellinger will start minor-league rehab Thursday or Friday.
Bellinger has been on the injured list since July 26 with a left hamstring strain.
Boone previously said Tuesday but corrected the timeline after the Yankees’ 4-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday.
He added Bellinger has no setback, needs a few rehab games, and fans called Boone out.

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