New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger was a late scratch from Tuesday’s lineup due to an illness, and he thinks he may know what caused it.
Bellinger was not in the lineup for New York’s early start against the Detroit Tigers because of food poisoning. Yankees manager Aaron Boone did not believe Bellinger was dealing with a viral illness because no one else on the team was sick.
According to Boone, the Yankees believe Bellinger ate some bad chicken wings on Monday night.
Cody Bellinger has food poisoning, Yankees believe. They think it may be from the wings he ate last night, has been throwing up. So that’s why he’s not in the lineup.
— Greg Joyce (@GJoyce9) April 8, 2025
The Yankees acquired Bellinger in a trade with the Chicago Cubs over the winter. Bellinger has seven hits through his first eight games with New York, one of which was a home run. He is batting .233 and has struck out eight times.
Bellinger signed a three-year, $80 million deal with the Cubs prior to the 2024 season. The 29-year-old could have opted out for the 2025 season but chose not to and will earn $25 million this year. He has another player option — worth $22.5 million — for next season.
It is at least a positive sign that Bellinger believes he has pinpointed what made him sick. Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts dealt with a frightening mystery illness last month that resulted in him vomiting repeatedly, and no one really knows what caused it.
