After sizzling in October, Bird eyes entire season
TAMPA — There was a familiar sight at the Yankees’ minor league facility Thursday, as Greg Bird lofted several monstrous home runs well over the right-field fence, looking like the hitter he was at the end of 2017.
The key for Bird this season — just as it was the previous two years — is staying healthy.
A torn labrum in his shoulder cost him the season two years ago, and last year he was done in by an injury to his right ankle. Both injuries ended up requiring surgery. The 25year-old has displayed terrific power, but has never appeared in more than 48 major league games in a season.
“I’m not gonna lie, I’m anxious to show it,” Bird said of being able to remain in one piece and productive for an entire campaign. “I want to. It’s what I’ve wanted to do. It’s been an interesting couple of years.”
The Yankees are banking on Bird’s ability to remain upright. Bird proved how valuable he can be in the latter part of last season, when he went 13-for-44 with six homers in his final 14 regular-season games and then had a .938 OPS in 54 postseason plate appearances.
“I think people saw it,’’ Bird said of his potential. “But I want to do it for a full season. I’ve got to do it for a full season.”
He insists his ankle, which he first injured near the end of spring training last year, is OK.
“I was kind of behind the eight ball a little bit when I came back [from the surgery] because I came back quick,” Bird said of his August return. “We were just playing and we were going [well]. I got to take care of some stuff in the offseason, work on my balance and some ankle stuff and it felt great. … The offseason was really good for it and getting it back to where it needed to be. I don’t foresee it being a problem.’’
If he’s right, Bird figures to be a huge part of what is shaping up to be a fearsome lineup in The Bronx, where he’ll be joined again by Gary Sanchez, Didi Gregorius, Aaron Judge, and new addition Giancarlo Stanton.
“It can’t hurt,’’ Bird said of Stanton’s arrival from Miami. “I’m excited to meet him.”
The lineup will try to get the Yankees back to where they were last season, when they reached Game 7 of the ALCS.
Despite the disappointment of the loss in Houston, Bird said he didn’t linger on the defeat.
“I was just ready to go again,’’ Bird said. “I think a lot of guys felt that way. After we lost, it was upsetting, obviously, but it was like, ‘Let’s get ready to go again.’ Who better to do it with than these guys?”
Bird didn’t watch the Astros beat the Dodgers in the World Series, in part because he needed to decompress.
But he’s prepared for what’s ahead and the heightened expectations the Yankees will face — as opposed to this time last year.
“We’re on the map and that’s good,’’ Bird said. “We said we were gonna surprise people last year. That was our thing. This year, it’s not a surprise anymore. We’re a good team and people know that, so they’re going to be coming after us and were gonna come after them.”