Cody Bellinger is Returning A Lot Sooner Than Expected?

I don't know about you guys, but when I first saw the Cubs say that Cody Bellinger had not one, but two fractured ribs after he collided with the outfield wall at Wrigley Field I thought he was going to be out for several weeks, possibly up to two months if not longer. But I guess it wasn't actually that serious of an injury and the Cubs are now hopeful that Bellinger will return shortly after his 10-day IL stint is over.

Fans were clued in on Bellinger's quick recovery when he was on the field at Fenway Park this past weekend, playing catch and taking some swings with the bat.

Bellinger was placed on the 10-day injured list on April 24, and again when you hear fractured ribs you can't help but fear a long recovery period. Yet, during Monday's series opener against the New York Mets, Marquee Sports Network reporter Taylor McGregor gave Cubs fans even more optimism as she updated the current status of Cubs players on the injured list.

We already knew that Justin Steele is making a rehab start on Wednesday and that if all goes well he'll be back in the Cubs starting rotation next week. Right-handed reliever Julian Merryweather is getting ready to begin throwing again on Friday, but the biggest headline here is that Bellinger could re-join the Cubs immediately after his 10-day IL stint without the need of a rehab assignment.

Via Taylor McGregor.

"Cody Bellinger has resumed light baseball activities as he ramps up. They're just paying attention to the way his body feels. And Seiya Suzuki maybe a couple of weeks behind him - it's been about two weeks since he suffered that oblique injury and still about two weeks out. He'll probably have to go on a rehab assignment. And then quickly back to Cody Bellinger there is hope that as he ramps up he could come off of the IL not long after his 10-day stint."

I certainly don't want the Cubs to rush Bellinger back and they shouldn't. The team continues to grind out wins and you don't want Bellinger to come back too soon only to have him injured again. At the same time, boy would it be great to have him back because although the Cubs are winning games, the offense has been struggling and Bellinger's presence in the lineup could help out everyone.

Bellinger went on the injured list right when he was getting hot. His overall season slash line is .226/.320/.440, good enough for a .760 OPS and 105 wRC+. However, in his last seven games before suffering the rib injury, Bellinger slashed .346/.433/.769, going 9-for-26 at the plate with more walks (4) than strikeouts (3) and three home runs. He was on a roll and then bam, banged into the bricks.

Fingers crossed that Bellinger will be 100% soon and if he is, then he could be back in the middle of the Cubs lineup as early as this weekend, when the team opens up a three-game series at home against the Milwaukee Brewers.