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Bird eager to put injury behind him in 2017
- Updated: December 22, 2016
NEW YORK — In some ways, Greg Bird was the original Gary Sanchez, joining the Yankees for the stretch drive of a pennant race and contributing big hits along the way. They can’t wait to see how their lineup will look with both sluggers wearing pinstripes in 2017.
After splashing onto the scene with seven strong weeks to complete the 2015 season, Bird is the early favorite to serve as the Yanks’ Opening Day first baseman, coming back from a right labrum surgery that cost him all of 2016. However, he did play in the Arizona Fall League.
“It’s about just getting back in the batter’s box and getting his swing mechanics down, and seeing pitches and taking pitches,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. “All we care about is him having a full healthy Fall League, which he’s done. It checks the box and we’ll be looking forward to seeing him in Spring Training. All reports are, he looks good.”
Bird, 24, hit .215 (14-for-65) with one home run and 10 RBIs in 17 games for the Scottsdale Scorpions, playing on a stacked roster that included fellow Yankees farmhands Gleyber Torres, Miguel Andujar and Tyler Wade.
The numbers may not have …
