Cubs Injury Update: Cody Bellinger to IL with Rib Fracture

The Chicago Cubs are losing yet another key contributor to their lineup for some time. Manager Craig Counsell announced Wednesday that Cody Bellinger will be placed on the injured list due to a right rib fracture.

Pete Crow-Armstrong will join the MLB club in a corresponding move. One could infer that he'll handle most of the center field duties in Bellinger's absence.

Despite his early exit against the Houston Astros, Bellinger was in good spirits after colliding with the outfield wall on Tuesday. Obviously, something changed since then, and for the worse.

The Cubs can't afford any more injuries as they're still reeling from the losses of Justin Steele and Seiya Suzuki . Astonishingly, the team maintains a 14-9 record through all the bumps and bruises.

However, losing Bellinger will test how long the Cubs can hold the line. It wouldn't be wise to continue banking on that level of resiliency with another roster mainstay on the shelf.

Now that Bellinger has a rib fracture, the Cubs need to be extra careful in handling his recovery. In the meantime, they're certainly hoping that Crow-Armstrong can develop into the player who has received such a high billing as a prospect.

As of this writing, it's unclear exactly how long Bellinger will be out. Rib injuries are tricky, as the Cubs know from experience. Down the stretch in 2023, Marcus Stroman dealt with a rib cartilage fracture that derailed a strong start to his season. His dip in production and subsequent absence largely contributed to the team falling short of the postseason.

It's still early in the 2024 season, and the Cubs have time on their side to surge further up the standings. Getting meaningful production from Crow-Armstrong would provide an instant boost.

Subscribe to On Tap Sports Net on YouTube , and the Cubs On Tap podcast and Dingers: A Chicago Cubs Podcast for more Chicago Cubs content, updates, and hot takes!