Yankees: Greg Bird’s return is fast-approaching; what it means for 25-man roster

While the Yankees continue to be the hottest team in baseball, winning 15 of their last 16, they’re also close to being at full strength. Many of their injured players are close to returning with first basemen Greg Bird at the forefront of that list.

When Bird suffered an injury (again) just days before Opening Day back in late March the Yankees announced that he would undergo surgery on the same ankle that forced him to miss the majority of last season. It was supposed to sideline him close to six to eight weeks so that he could return at some point in mid to late May.

It’s now May 8th and Bird’s return is quickly approaching which means the Yankees front office will have some tough decisions to make on their 25-man roster. Bird is still further away from returning than the likes of Brandon Drury and Tommy Khanle. But when he does come back somebody who has helped the Yankees get off to this outstanding start is going to have to be sent down, traded or even released.

As unfair as that may be for someone like Neil Walker or Tyler Austin, getting a healthy Greg Bird will only help this team reach their full potential. On Monday, Bird started his rehab assignment in extended spring training and went 1-3 with a pair of walks as the DH. He’ll still need more at-bats and time in the field at first before he is inserted back into the lineup but when he returns he is going to be the starting first basemen.

Now I know a lot of Yankee fans might have a problem with that considering Bird is never healthy. Tyler Austin has done a fine job in his absence and Neil Walker has looked much better at the plate of late after a really rough start.

However, the Yankees have invested a lot in Bird over the years and management has always envisioned him as their everyday first basemen of the future. That hasn’t changed even after all of his injury woes the past three seasons. They know that Bird still has all the talent to become a great player and a big part of their potent lineup.

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By all accounts, this should the last of Bird’s issues with the ankle after he himself said there is nothing structurally wrong with it following the surgery. Here’s Bird per Erik Boland of Newsday:

"I don’t have a bad ankle. That was told to me by the doctor. He said everything in there is fine. He just said you had a bone spur that needed to be taken out.”"

Hopefully, that’s the case because as I’ve written before a healthy Greg Bird could be a game changer for this Yankees lineup. It’s already the best and the deepest in baseball, but adding a healthy Bird could make this lineup nearly impossible to navigate through.

He’d slide in nicely right behind Gary Sanchez in the sixth hole and give the Yankees another power lefty bat with the potential to hit a lot of home runs. That’s exactly what Bird has done whenever he’s been healthy while also having a knack for getting big hits. The image of him taking Andrew Miller deep during last year’s ALDS is one Yankees fan will always remember and showed how dangerous a hitter he can be.

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At only 25 years-old Bird still projects to be a big part of this young Yankee core that has a chance to lead them to another dynasty. You just hope he can stay on the field after all that he’s been through and mentally he’s in the right place because when he’s healthy the Yankees are a better team without question.