Chicago Cubs place OF Cody Bellinger on paternity list

CHICAGO -- Chicago Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger was placed on the paternity list Tuesday following the birth of his second child on Sunday, a baby girl.

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The paternity list allows players to miss 1-3 games for the birth of a child.

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Bellinger, 27, is hitting .300 with five home runs while playing stellar defense in center field during his first month with his new team. The 2019 NL MVP finalized a $17.5 million, one-year contract with the Cubs in December.

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The Cubs also recalled outfielder Nelson Velazquez from Triple-A Iowa. He was in the starting lineup Tuesday, playing center field, for the opener of a three-game series against San Diego.

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Velazquez, 24, is in his second stint with the Cubs this season. He hit a grand slam for Chicago earlier this month, part of a comeback victory over the Seattle Mariners.

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The Cubs also announced right-handed pitcher Kyle Hendricks will begin a rehab assignment Thursday for Triple-A Iowa. 

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Hendricks, 33, is coming back from a right shoulder strain and hasn't pitched in a big league game since July 5.

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He's expected to rejoin the Cubs next month.

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"He's touched 90 [mph] a couple times," manager David Ross said. "He's not going to be the guy that throws 95, but when he's at his best he has a nine in front of that number. That separates the speed and deception between the changeup."

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Ross was noncommittal when asked how many rehab starts Hendricks would make before returning to the majors. He is expected to throw about four innings and 60 pitches Thursday.

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"We'll see how it goes from there," Ross said. "I'd like to get him multiple starts, but there's a lot of variables in that that can also change."

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Hendricks is the lone player remaining from the Cubs' 2016 World Series championship team.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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