Despite demotion, Tyler may yet be a major player

PORT CHARLOTTE — Tyler Austin didn’t make the Yankees out of spring training. But that could change if Greg Bird needs to go one the disabled list due to a right foot injury. Austin, who was slated to start the 2018 campaign at Triple-A Scranton, could be in the Opening Day lineup at first base against Blue Jays lefty J.A. Happ in Toronto.

The 26-year-old showed power this spring, hitting four homers. But he wasn’t needed with Bird as the starter and Neil Walker as his backup.

“I feel like I had a pretty good camp,” Austin aside. “I felt like I got better in all aspects of my game and I felt like at the plate I was having consistent at-bats, so I felt like it went well.”

Austin came up an outfielder, but began playing first extensively in the 2015 Arizona Fall League.

“I’m really comfortable at first base. I’ve worked my butt off the last couple years to get better over there and I feel good,” Austin said.

Austin has seven homers and a .741 OPS in 123 career MLB at-bats over the last two seasons.

“It was tough (being cut) but I understand it. It’s part of it,” Austin said. “Obviously I would’ve liked for that not to have happened but I understand that that’s the direction they were going. So I couldn’t be mad. I just had to go play and continue to get better.”

Austin said he hadn’t spoken with Bird, who will visit foot specialist Dr. Martin O’Malley in New York on Monday.

“It’s awful to be honest with you,” Austin said of Bird’s injury. “You never want an injury to happen — especially to a good piece of the team like Bird. I don’t know how serious it is, but hopefully he’s back out there as soon as he can be.”

Austin actually got a chance to be the first baseman in 2017 when Bird got hurt. But it didn’t last, as Austin suffered a hamstring injury.

“I obviously didn’t set out to say hey let’s get back to the big leagues and then injure my leg,” Austin said. “It was just an unfortunate year with injuries for me. Not how you draw it up.”

Austin may get another chance, though.