TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Greg Bird is stronger, healthier and ready to challenge Luke Voit for the New York Yankees' first-base job.
After three injury-marred seasons, the 26-year old Bird reported to the Yankees' spring training complex in early January and checked into camp at 230 pounds, up about 20 from the end of last season.
"I was able to start over and get to where I needed to be, and work from the ground up," Bird said Thursday after homering off Masahiro Tanaka in a simulated game and adding a single against left-hander James Paxton. "I didn't change anything. I just got back to where I needed to be."
Bird made his big league debut in August 2015 and hit 11 homers with 31 RBIs in 46 games. He missed 2016 after surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder, then hit .451 with eight homers during spring training in 2017 but fouled a ball off his right ankle March 30,.
He started the season 6 for 60 and went on the disabled list May 2. Bird had surgery July 18 to remove a bone in the ankle. He returned Aug. 26 and hit .253 with eight homers and 25 RBIs in 29 games, then batted .241 three homers and six RBIs in 13 playoff games.
But he hit poorly in spring training last year and had surgery March 27 to remove a broken spur on the outside of his right ankle. He did not play for the Yankees until May 26 and wound up with a .199 average, 11 homers and 38 RBIs over 82 games.
Voit, acquired from St. Louis on July 28, displaced Bird and hit .333 with 14 homers and 33 RBIs in 39 games with the Yankees. General manager Brian Cashman said the job was Voit's to lose this spring training.
"The one thing about Greg, even last year when he was struggling at its most, he controls the strike zone," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "His first at-bats today, that was apparent and then we saw him impact the ball as well."
Bird's drive off Tanaka produced a loud bang after nailing the right-center field scoreboard on a back field at Steinbrenner Field. In his next at-bat, he lined an opposite-field to left hit off Paxton. He also took a called third strike against Chad Green.
"It's step in the right direction," Bird said. "I just want to play. That's one step closer to playing."
Voit had three at-bats Thursday, including a single to left against Paxton.
Bird's homer was the lone hit off Tanaka, who struck out Miguel Andujar, Gleyber Torres and Tyler Wade over 1 2/3 innings.
Troy Tulowitzki drove a ball off the left-field fence against Paxton.
MR. 0
Adam Ottavino wore No. 0, and that's exactly what he gave the hitters.
He struck out Torres and Voit, then struck out Wade twice, both times swinging.
"You're watching from behind and knowing as a right-handed hitter, that's not a fun at-bat right there," Boone said. "Sometimes when he executes, you're kind of like not even upset when you're out, you're just glad it's over with."
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