The New York Yankees have confirmed that Cody Bellinger will be their No. 3 hitter, positioned directly behind Aaron Judge to reinforce the heart of the lineup. Bellinger had an outstanding spring training, boasting a .465/.511/.791 slash line over 16 exhibition games, and the team is optimistic he can carry this success into the regular season.
“Cody Bellinger will bat behind Aaron Judge and be the Yankees’ primary No. 3 hitter, per sources. Batting .465 with a 1.301 OPS this spring, so not exactly a surprise,” Jon Heyman reported on X.
Bellinger, a former NL MVP, had a somewhat underwhelming 2024 season with the Chicago Cubs, hitting .266 with 18 home runs in 130 games. However, the Yankees believe that Yankee Stadium’s dimensions will complement his left-handed swing and potentially help him regain his power-hitting form. Manager Aaron Boone values his left-handed bat for maintaining lineup balance.
Filling the Juan Soto Void
With Juan Soto gone, Bellinger is expected to play a crucial role in providing protection for Judge. The Yankees are counting on his offensive contributions, particularly in slugging, given his 50% pull rate and an average exit velocity exceeding 92 mph during spring training—attributes that align well with Yankee Stadium’s right-field dimensions.
The projected lineup against right-handed pitching will feature Austin Wells, Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Paul Goldschmidt, with Jazz Chisholm likely batting fifth. While the Yankees don’t expect Bellinger to replicate Soto’s production, they believe he can protect Judge and perform well in clutch situations.
With Giancarlo Stanton sidelined indefinitely and Gerrit Cole dealing with injuries, the offensive lineup must take on greater responsibility. The Yankees are looking to Bellinger, Judge, and Goldschmidt, along with young talent like Ben Rice, to drive run production.
Bellinger’s strong spring training secured his key role in the lineup, reinforcing the team’s confidence in him. As the Yankees aim for postseason success, fans are eager to see how this revamped batting order will perform.
