New York Yankees: Five Encouraging Signs for the Future
By Sean Dyer
Greg Bird Looks Like the Real Deal When He’s Healthy
The 2017 season was a difficult one for Greg Bird and a frustrating one for the New York Yankees waiting for their first baseman to get healthy.
Bird missed almost the entire season with an ankle injury that doctors just couldn’t figure out. An unnamed member of the Yankees organization even called out Bird’s desire to play.
Bird has great power and a smooth left-handed swing built for Yankee Stadium. The problem is, injuries have prevented Bird from reaching his potential.
After he played 46 games in 2015 after being called up, Bird missed all of 2016 with a torn labrum and played just 48 games this year because of his confusing ankle injury.
When he’s on the field, however, Bird has shown the power and patient approach at the plate that has the Yankees believing he’s their first baseman of the future.
In his 2015 debut, Bird hit .261 with 11 HR in 157 at-bats. This year, he hit just .190 but had nine homers in 147 at-bats. In his career, Bird has 20 HR in 304 at-bats.
If Bird were to play a full season, he would likely log about 500 at-bats. Based on his current home run production, if Bird could stay healthy for a full year, he would hit about 33 homers.
Bird put his power and patience on display this postseason. In the 13 games, he hit .244/.426/.512 with two doubles, three home runs, and six RBI.
Between Bird, Aaron Judge, and Gary Sanchez, the New York Yankees would have three guys who can hit 30+ home runs in the middle of their order. That kind of power is encouraging for the future of the New York Yankees.