Yankees first basemen continue to battle for starting spot

With the onset of Greg Bird’s return to the Yankees, GM Brian Cashman must soon decide which first baseman is most deserving of a roster spot.

Yankees fill-in first baseman Neil Walker struggled immensely at the beginning of the season, batting a meager .159 in April. However, his offensive production has increased dramatically over the past several weeks. His average now sits at a commendable .318 in May, his OBP skyrocketing from .192 to .434 between the two months.

Though the veteran initially underperformed, his bat and defense have been a substantial piece of this team. His quality at-bats and plate discipline have allowed him to start some late-inning rallies that have resulted in wins. Walker hit his own walk-off hit homer against the Oakland A’s on May 13 after the Yanks battled through 11 innings.

As productive as Walker has been, however, Tyler Austin has also made an impact as a backup first baseman and continues to impress the organization.

He currently leads AL rookies in RBI (23) and is tied with teammate Gleyber Torres for home runs with eight. Austin’s power and strength at the plate have allowed him to absolutely crush baseballs. He’s even succeeded against tough opponents, such as Chris Sale. Austin has shown he is a capable playing deserving of regular playing time.

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Yankees manager Aaron Boone praised Austin for his contributions at first base, Erik Boland reports:

"“Tyler’s put himself in a very good position,” Boone said."

However, Greg Bird will soon return to the Yankees lineup. Bird is one of the team’s most highly anticipated players this season. After undergoing ankle surgery in March, he joined the disabled list. His rehab assignment began on May 10.

Though Bird has a history of injuries and a batting average below .200, he has great potential to be a weapon in an already-powerful Yankee lineup. His stats poorly reflect how good of a player he actually is. His opportunity to prove his capability will likely begin this weekend.

Boone has alluded to the success of Walker and Austin and has not yet stated that Bird will immediately start at first base once he has completed his assignment. But Cashman has always intended for Bird to start at first base. He will take priority over the other two.

Though Bird’s injury initially threatened the lineup’s depth, production at first base has been steady this season. The Yankees have performed so well this year that Bird‘s return will mark a tough decision, but this signifies just how stacked and dense this team is.

Next: Is Clint Frazier a star in the making?

Despite strong efforts by Walker and Austin, both fans and the Yankees look forward to Bird’s return and how his efforts will further improve the team.