Cody Bellinger’s three-homer comeback against the Cubs almost included another.

Bellinger’s Redemption Against Cubs

On Friday, Cody Bellinger faced off against his old team, the Cubs. It was a remarkable day for him, marking the first time he hit three home runs in a single game. Yet, just when it seemed he might hit a fourth, his former team had other plans.

After belting two impressive two-run homers to right field against the Yankees, Bellinger looked all set to launch another in the seventh inning. He connected with a 94 mph sinker and sent it soaring toward right field. It seemed like it would clear the fence with ease.

But Cubs right fielder Kyle Tucker had something to say about that. He leaped, timed it perfectly, and snatched the ball right before it could cross the wall.

Despite that moment of frustration, the Yankees didn’t let up. They continued pushing hard, ultimately scoring two more runs off a series of singles from Ben Rice, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Paul Goldschmidt, and JC Eskara. This gave them an impressive 8-0 lead.

This matchup represented Bellinger’s first time facing the Cubs since his offseason trade to the Yankees, which Chicago made primarily for salary reasons.

The deal sent Bellinger to the Yankees in exchange for pitcher Cody Potoet, who, oddly enough, spent just five games with the Cubs last season, not quite making an impact.

Interestingly, that pitcher was later traded to the Orioles for cash back in March.

Bellinger brought with him a contract worth $52.5 million over two years, which includes a player option for $25 million in 2026. Many speculate he’s likely to opt out at the end of this season to test free agency.