Stuck at DH, Cubs' Cody Bellinger is still working past his finger injury

As Cody Bellinger tumbled to the ground in the bottom of the first inning Tuesday night, Chicago Cubs fans might’ve gotten a bit worried.

Bellinger managed to beat out a ground ball to the right side of the infield for a single, but the replay showed an awkward landing as he lunged toward the base with his left foot. He did get checked out by a trainer and ultimately stayed in the game, but any initial concern that he could miss time should tell you how important Bellinger is to the Cubs.

That’s essentially why he returned to the lineup a week ago, just under three weeks removed from being hit on hand and suffering a fractured left middle finger on July 10. Though Bellinger hadn’t quite been hitting the way the Cubs have needed him to after signing him to a three-year, $80 million contract this past winter (108 wRC+ at the time of the injury), he’s someone the team needs to be in the lineup and producing to be at its best.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell‘s updates while Bellinger was on the injured list were that, in terms of pain tolerance, his ability to swing was ahead of his ability to throw the ball. Counsell had previously said Bellinger coming back in solely a designated hitter role at first was a possibility, and sure enough, he was listed as the Cubs’ DH when he returned to the lineup last Tuesday against the Cincinnati Reds.

Despite still feeling some pain in the finger, despite the fact he didn’t go on a rehab assignment and despite the fact he couldn’t be used in the field, he rejoined the lineup hoping to provide a spark.

“I think you can do so much mentally, visualization-wise, where you can stay locked in mentally,” Bellinger said. “My swing was in a good spot, but you never know until you step in the box. You just can’t emulate a game swing, unless you go on a rehab assignment. At that point, I was like, ‘Well, let’s just go. I got really nothing to lose. My finger is good enough, it seems, and let’s just see how it goes.'”

Though he wasn’t at 100 percent, Bellinger felt like he could hit through it.

He did have to alter his grip a bit to help deal with the lingering pain. At first, he said, he tried putting no pressure on the bat with his middle finger, but he discovered he “completely lost my top hand.” He’s been sporting a makeshift pad that goes in between his finger and the bat, which helps with the feeling as he puts some pressure with the finger.

Bellinger still feels it on some swings, and he’ll sometimes call a timeout during an at-bat to get resettled.

But overall, the injury hasn’t slowed him down at the plate. He entered Tuesday hitting .321 with an .882 OPS and a 139 wRC+ through his first seven games back, plus a pair of homers and six RBIs, and then he added the infield single in a 1-for-4 effort in the Cubs’ 7-3 win over the Twins.

He’s helped spark the Cubs to five wins in the eight games since his return and has just made the lineup feel deeper.

“He’s playing with an issue right now, right?” Counsell said. “And he’s done a good job with it. You’ll see some moments during the game or a swing or kind of the way the ball comes off the bat that it hurts. I mean, it doesn’t feel good, but he’s been able to manage it and stay in there and contribute.”

Ultimately, though, Bellinger’s impact has only been felt on one side of the ball. It’s currently unclear when he’ll be ready to impact the other.

“He’s still struggling throwing,” Counsell said. “That tells you he’s still feeling it hitting. When he tries to make throws with intent, it’s not very enjoyable. That’s the best way to say it. We’re making progress. It’s just going a little slower.”

Counsell said before Monday’s series opener that Bellinger wouldn’t play in the field against the Twins. He went on to be the Cubs’ DH Monday and Tuesday, so don’t expect to all of a sudden see him take the field Wednesday, either.

“I’m throwing every day,” Bellinger said. “That’s coming along slower. The ball comes off your middle finger every time, and that’s where the fracture is, so whenever I put any type of intensity on it, it comes a little sharper. The distance, I’m throwing further every day, so just keep making progress.”

Though Counsell hasn’t yet ruled out Bellinger getting back on the field during Crosstown Classic series on the South Side on Friday and Saturday, with the Cubs off Thursday and Sunday, it’s possible he just gives him another stretch of days as the team’s DH.

Bellinger played the bulk of his games early this season in center field. However, when the team got healthier and Pete Crow-Armstrong‘s defense earned him more time in center in the weeks leading up to Bellinger’s finger injury, he was playing more right field and Seiya Suzuki was DH’ing more often. With Michael Busch continuing to improve at first base, this was probably the Cubs’ best defensive lineup.

Expect that to continue even when Bellinger is ready to take the field again.

“Regardless of what happens the rest of season — good, bad, in between — I think Pete’s going to play center field,” Counsell said. “You’ll see some other guys out there, but I think Pete’s gonna get the lion’s share of center field.”

Bellinger could still spell Crow-Armstrong in center field, of course. And with right field, left field, first base and DH, there will be flexibility for Counsell to rotate him with Suzuki, Ian Happ, Busch and Mike Tauchman.

Until a new update is given, Bellinger will be DH’ing for the foreseeable future. But whether he’s playing both sides of the ball or only impacting the game with his bat, he’s focused on helping the team make a strong push over the last two months of the season.

“I like where we’re at,” Bellinger said. “As healthy as we’ve ever been. I think it’s shown on the field. We’re playing well. Got some tough matchups here coming up, as every big league team’s hard. Just gotta continue playing our game and playing really well.”

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