Yankees Greg Bird Paces AFL All-Stars With Long Home Run

He wasn’t even supposed to participate in the game. He easily has had the best Arizona Fall League performance at the plate, yet very few people know who he is. That was until yesterday during the 2014 Arizona Fall League All-Star Game. Greg Bird was a late addition to the roster for the injured Byron Buxton, and he didn’t waste that opportunity. Bird, one of the fast-rising prospects in the Yankees’ minor league system, made everyone take notice, has his record-setting, 450-foot home run in the first inning of the AFL ASG, paced the Eastern Division Stars to a 6-2 victory Saturday evening. 

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It’s not as if Bird lucked out and had an over his head performance. Ever since arriving in Arizona, he has knocked the cover off of the baseball since play began earlier in October. Bird is hitting .342 with 6 bombs, and just under 20 driven in. He has been an on-base machine, just as he’s been throughout his short professional career. He, along with big-time prospect Aaron Judge played in last night’s game, with Judge, went 0-for-2.

Bird’s first inning bomb, was the longest in the almost decade-long history of the Arizona Fall League. While Mark Teixeira continues to regress because of age and injuries, the Yankees could have his eventual replacement continuing to develop much quicker than anyone had originally anticipated. Bird could be ready for the Bronx around the same time Teixeira’s career in pinstripes is in it’s Swan Song.

Aside from Bird’s offensive output, the Toronto Blue Jays’ outfield prospet,

had an two-run triple to help put the Eastern Stars out front, and they never looked back.

, the Arizona Diamondbacks’ top pitching prospect, got the win for the Eastern Stars, who has pitched to the tune of a 6.55 ERA in Fall League action.

of the Phillies, had a pair of knocks, and two stolen bases, and

from the Pirates came home twice.

Arizona Fall League action resumes this coming week, and will run through November 13th, and if Bird continues on the pace he’s been on the entire Fall, he should also garner MVP honors for the entire league. His performance, has proven that the Yankees’ farm system is rising again, after being barren with little to no talent to speak of for years. Congrats Greg and keep up the great work!