Bird, McKinney continue rehab in Trenton
TRENTON, N.J. » The Yankees entered Monday tied with the Red Sox for the best record in baseball. They have weathered a slew of injuries, unlocked various ways to win and navigated toward the preseason hype that buzzed around New York.
Still, that does not ease the psychological burden for Greg Bird and Billy McKinney, who traveled from Tampa to continue their rehab assignments with the Thunder beginning Monday night at Arm & Hammer Park against Akron.
They combined to go 0-for-7 with two strikeouts at the plate, but McKinney’s sac bunt in the 10th inning helped Trenton win the series opener, 3-2.
“It sucks,” Bird said. “It sucks. It does. I’ve said it: It’s terrible. It’s not fun watching. I think good or bad, you want to be there with the team, with the guys. Especially guys that I’ve come up with, that I’m close with. I never not want to be there. I want to be there when it’s good, I want to be there when it’s bad. And there’s always a pressure to get there.”
But it’s only a matter of time now. Trenton manager Jay Bell said the plan is for Bird and McKinney to stay with the Thunder through their home stand that lasts until Sunday. They will then either come off the disabled list or continue rehabbing elsewhere in the farm system.
The pair of left-handed bat-
ters each went 2-for- 8 in three games with High-A Tampa to start their assignments. Bird produced two RBI, three walks and two strikeouts, while McKinney compiled a double and three RBI.
Bird, a first baseman, has yet to play for the Yankees this season after undergoing right ankle surgery in March. McKinney suffered a left shoulder sprain from crashing into the outfield wall at Toronto on March 31 — just his second ever major league game.
“Just trying to get your legs underneath you, just feel comfortable out there playing every day,” McKinney said. “Just trying to go out there and not have to, for me personally, just not have to think about anything. Just think about playing and not have to worry about injury or anything like that. Just trying to feel good and go out there and help the team.”
Bird, 25, has played in only 94 games since debuting in New York in 2015. He has undergone shoulder surgery and two ankle surgeries — both to remove bone spurs within the past calendar year.
According to various reports, the Yankees believe Bird’s ongoing ankle problems stem from a ball he fouled off his foot last spring.
Bird sports a .227/. 316/.477 slash line with 20 home runs and 16 doubles in 348 career plate appearances. His ratios figure to be better once he can stay consistently healthy. The organization remains high on his potential, and Bird is hopeful his injury woes will soon be in the past.
“I’ve noticed some big differences so far, and like I said, it’s really about just being able to get to a point where day to day, I’m ready to go,” Bird said. “I feel like I’m really close, so that’s nice. Surgery is a weird thing. There’s always lingering effects to surgery.
“Before you have the surgery it’s, there’s a problem that needs to be fixed. Now it’s, the problem’s gone. It’s just getting over the sur- gery, and that takes time. So there’s really only so much you can do, but so far it’s been great and I’m really happy with where I’m at.”
Bird played seven innings Monday and is slated to consistently go nine innings the rest of the week. One of his starts will be at designated hitter.
McKinney, 24, will start twice in left field, twice in right field, likely DH once and possibly once in center field, Bell said.
Bell also said both will get a day off from Wednesday’s 10:30 a.m. game.
Given the Yankees’ logjam of outfielders McKinney could be ticketed for Triple-A Scranton/ WilkesBarre once deemed ready to come off the DL.
Third baseman Brandon Drury, who recently rehabbed in Trenton, faced that reality Monday when the Yankees optioned him to Triple-A following 17 minor league games.
Nevertheless, the ultimate goal is to eventually get back to helping a World Series contender.
“It’s great that they’re doing so well, that’s for sure,” McKinney said. “That’s awesome to see, but you obviously want to be a part of it. I know Greg definitely does. He’s been itching to get back. I’m itching to get back as well.”