Scouting the Yankees in the Arizona Fall League

Greg Bird

Probably the most exciting development for Yankees fans in the Arizona Fall League has been the immediate success of projected 2017 first baseman Greg Bird, who missed all of the 2016 regular season following shoulder surgery. In four games during the first week, Bird has gone 5-for-17 with four doubles, two runs scored, and two RBI. He has one walk and three strikeouts.

For the moment Bird has not been cleared to throw, so he has been working exclusively as a DH in the early days of the AFL, but his results at the plate have been impressive enough that fans shouldn’t be too worried. Bird apparently feels the same way, recently telling Randy Miller of NJ Advance Media, “I’m all about quality at-bats … seeing the ball good and staying healthy.”

While many analysts have expressed concern over Bird’s ability to return to form by next spring, the 23-year-old has already flashed impressive pop considering how much time he’s missed, with four extra base hits in four games. While he admits he’s not 100%, Bird sounds pleased with the progress he’s making, telling Miller:

"I feel it less and less. Sometimes I get maybe sore in one spot or feel something in another spot, but in general it feels pretty smooth."