Cubs' Cody Bellinger to Injured List; No. 1 Prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong Called Up

The Chicago Cubs received bad news about Cody Bellinger's rib injury that forced him out of Tuesday's win over the Houston Astros in the seventh inning.

Manager Craig Counsell told 670 The Score's Parkins & Spiegel Show that Bellinger will be placed on the injured list with a fractured rib.

"It's kind of unknown yet in terms of like when he'll return, but obviously, tough news," Counsell said of Bellinger's injury.

Counsell added Pete Crow-Armstrong, the No. 15 overall prospect in MLB, will be called up from Triple-A to take Bellinger's spot on the roster.

The injury occurred in the top of the fourth inning when Bellinger ran into the wall in right-center field attempting to make a catch on Yainer Díaz's RBI double.

Bellinger was able to stay in the game for two more innings, including taking an at-bat in the bottom of the fifth. He was lifted for Alexander Canario in the top of the seventh inning.

Counsell told reporters that Bellinger's X-ray came back negative, but a CT scan taken on Wednesday morning revealed the fracture.

Bellinger described the feeling in his ribs as a "very dull pain" in the locker room after the game.

Bellinger hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the first inning to give the Cubs a 2-0 lead. The 2019 NL MVP is hitting .226/.320/.440 with five homers and 17 RBI in 97 plate appearances this season.

Crow-Armstrong is getting his second opportunity to make a strong impression in Chicago. The 22-year-old went 0-for-14 with three walks and two stolen bases in 19 plate appearances over 13 games last season.

Chicago acquired Crow-Armstrong from the New York Mets in July 2021 for Javier Báez and Trevor Williams. He was the No. 19 overall pick by the Mets in the 2020 MLB draft.

Crow-Armstrong is off to a slow start in Triple-A this season. He is hitting .203/.241/.392 with two homers, seven RBI and five stolen bases in 19 games.

Counsell didn't commit to playing Crow-Armstrong every day, saying they will "look at the matchups and figure out the best way to put together a starting nine."

The Cubs have won seven of their last 10 games and sit in second place in the NL Central with a 14-9 overall record.