Yankees Greg Bird: Projections and potential in 2018

With Starlin Castro and Chase Headley gone in trades during the offseason, the 2018 Yankees infield profiles to be young and full of potential.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has repeatedly said this offseason that top prospects Gleyber Torres and Miguel Andujar will be in the mix for the vacant infield spots at second and third base, respectively, and with the recent signing of Todd Frazier by the Mets, it would appear Andujar is the favorite at the hot corner.

While Torres may begin the season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to sharpen up after a severe injury sidelined him in June of last year — and to give the Yankees another year of service time, Yankee fans will likely see Torres before the All-Star Break and with any luck, much sooner.

In the meantime, expect to see a battle between Ronald Torreyes, Tyler Wade, Jace Peterson and Danny Espinosa for the second base and backup infielder jobs. The Opening Day infield could very well be Greg Bird at first base, Torres/Torreyes at second, Didi Gregorius at shortstop and Miguel Andujar at third.

Gregorius had a career year in 2017 and fans have come to know they can expect reliable and spectacular play out of their veteran shortstop. What can fans expect from Bird, however, going into what they hope will be his first full season in the big leagues?

After a stellar rookie debut when Mark Teixeira went down with an injury in August of 2015, Bird has been sidelined the past two seasons with various injuries. Bird, like the other young talent for the Yankees, is riding into the season mostly on potential and projections.

Cashman once referred to Bird as the best pure hitter in the organization, and, according to some, Bird is one of the better left-handed bats in the league.

In fact, Bird’s game-winning home run off Cleveland Indians’ lefty and former Yankee Andrew Miller in Game 3 of the American League Division Series was the only run scored in the game.

The home run off Miller was only the second home run he had allowed on a fastball to a left-hander in the last three seasons.

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After returning from the ankle injury that had knocked him out until the end of August, Bird hit .440 (11-25) with runners in scoring position, scored 14 runs, hit eight homers and collected 25 RBI in 29 games.

If Bird’s contributions at the end of last season and into the Postseason are any indication of future success, Yankee fans can look forward to more critical contributions from him in ’18.

In 94 career games, Bird has 20 homers and 59 RBI.

Brett Borzelli of Pinstripealley.com writes:

Based on those totals, he projects to hit 34 dingers and drive in 102 runs over a full 162 game schedule.”

It would be a rare display of lefty strength in the Bronx if Bird could produce this kind of power this year.

Fangraphs’ projections for Bird are not nearly so generous: .240/.333/.480 with 19 home runs and 60 RBI in 372 plate appearances. The projections for Bird are modest, says Fangraphs, as a result of the modest-playing time projection. He’s recorded only 200 or so professional plate appearances over the last two seasons.

Still, Yankee fans would take the numbers projected for Bird by Fangraphs if it meant getting him for an entire season on the field. We would do well to remember that projections are not predictions and that Bird, if healthy, will be an essential part of the Yankees’ offense.

Mike Petriello of MLB.com has said:

In 348 career plate appearances, he does have 20 homers and he was very good in both ’15 (.261/.343/.529) and after returning from surgery in late August last year (.253/.315/.575 plus three playoff homers).  If he stays healthy, the power is real.

Bird rewarded the Yankees’ faith in him last year by coming back with a strong offensive effort, if healthy, and there is no reason why he should not be, Bird could be another power bat to be reckoned with in an already stacked lineup — ie. Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Gary Sanchez.

Next: Sabathia brings added pressure to pitching staff

Bird had a monstrous Spring Training in 2017, and Yankee fans are looking forward to seeing the same thing again in 2018.