Is there a Greg Bird situation brewing for the New York Yankees? Â Bird’s well-documented struggles at the plate since returning from the disabled list (ankle) more than a month ago has Yankees fans wondering whether it isn’t time for a change.
Mike Axisa of River Ave. Blues writes that:
“Bird can hit fastballs. He just hasn’t since coming back from the disabled list. There’s a big difference between not being able to do something and not doing something at this moment. Bird is not hitting fastballs at this point in time. It doesn’t mean he won’t hit fastballs forever.”
With the Yankees in first place at 50-23, Bird’s ineffectiveness at the plate has not been a main concern, particularly since Gary Sanchez is also struggling and Didi Gregorius just recently picked up the pace after a month-long deep slump.
Since returning from the disabled list on May 15, Bird is hitting .198/.293/.407 with three home runs and five RBIs.
With the recent demotion of Tyler Austin to Triple-A, and the disappointing at-bats of Neil Walker against righties, would the Yankees consider bringing up Brandon Drury to back up Bird at first base?
George A. King III wrote that Brandon Drury has begun playing first base for the Scranton-Wilkes/Barre Railriders, the Yankees Triple A club. He made his initial start at first base a week ago and King speculates that this may be a way for Drury to make his way back to the big club.
Since his own return from the disabled list on April 25, Drury has hit .322/.432/.480 with four home runs and 27 RBIs between Double-A and Triple-A.
His return to the big leagues has been stymied by the surging rookie play of Miguel Andujar and Gleyber Torres—there’s simply been no place to play him. Until now, perhaps.
With Drury taking reps at first base for the Railriders, could Yankee fans see his hot bat giving Bird a break in the big leagues soon?