Despite a loss in the first game of the Grapefruit spring training league, the New York Yankees walked away with valuable information that will help decide the starters for the 2019 season.
The Boston Red Sox chose to start only 1-2 regular players from the regular season roster, while the Yanks utilized several starters in their first game of the spring. A majority of the experience came through youth players such as Miguel Andujar, Gleyber Torres, and Greg Bird.
All three have seen their fair share of struggles whether it be offensive production or defensive efficiency.
How did Greg Bird perform for the New York Yankees?
In the midst of a first base position battle, Greg Bird put up a solid first outing of the season. He went 2-2 at the plate with a double and a run scored. He looked disciplined and confident in the box, providing optimism for fans and coaches alike. Coming off a significant foot injury which stunted his growth, Bird gave us reason to believe that he’s more than capable of being a productive player on the starting roster.
Greg Bird at bat https://t.co/9V1xzPf5kF
— Eric Hubbs (@BarstoolHubbs) February 23, 2019
The 26-year-old has yet to hit at least .200 thus far in his two-year career. However, he has hit 31 homers in two seasons, which could be a reason general manager Brian Cashman hasn’t given up on the left-handed batter.
Bird oddly fits into the batting order nicely:
The Yankees have taken a home-run centric approach to their offense, and Bird fits right in when considering that statistic.
Moving forward, I would expect Luke Voit to start the season at first base, despite struggling defensively at times. His hitting was phenomenal in 2018 – batting .333 with the Bombers after being traded from the Cardinals. Voit is a power hitter that also meshes well with the batting order- I anticipate manager Aaron Boone playing the hot hand and alternating to find who proves to a be a more secure option.
Aaron Boone stated in regard to the position battle:
“We are a long way between now and the end of March. Luke Voit has earned the right to be that guy, but as I have said all along, I believe Greg Bird can be an impact player,’’ manager Aaron Boone stated after the Yankees’ 5-8 loss to the Red Sox on Saturday. “I never lost sight of that even at his lowest point last year.’’