Yankees: Greg Bird’s future is still uncertain but Luke Voit is here to stay

The Yankees opened up the season with a 7-2 win over the Orioles on Thursday in a game that was highlighted by Luke Voit’s three-run home run in the first inning to start the scoring. Later on, Greg Bird added a solo shot to extend the lead in his fourth and final at-bat after striking out his first three times at the plate.

The battle for the Yankees starting first base job continues, but with Aaron Hicks still out indefinitely both Voit and Bird are going to get plenty of playing time to begin the season. They’ve each earned that opportunity with how they played in Tampa though it will be interesting to see what Aaron Boone and company do once Hicks returns from the IL.

After Voit’s breakout performance down the stretch last season, he’s carried over that success into spring training and so far into the regular season. It’s obviously early, but when you consider Voit is batting cleanup in this star-studded Yankees lineup and he’s already producing I think it’s safe to say that no matter what he isn’t going anywhere and is here to stay.

Anyone who’s watched Voit hit since joining the Yanks knows that this guy is no fluke and the best from him is still yet to come. He might not produce at the same insane rate he did last August and September but over the course of a full, healthy season, he’s going to put up big time numbers and be one of the best first basemen in the league.

That being said, I think there’s a real chance Greg Bird could do the same now that he’s finally 100% healthy and swinging the bat as well as he has since the start of Spring Training. Bird did strikeout three times and got booed by the Yankee Stadium crowd but he impressed in his final at-bat when on an 0-2 pitch he took left-hander Paul Fry deep into the Bombers bullpen.

Bird’s blast didn’t travel as deep as Voit’s 428 ft bomb to dead center but it was another sign that he looks like a different player and one the Yankees can really rely on this season to be their main left-handed power source. He has his legs back under him with his right ankle fully healed and it’s shown over the past month with the way he’s driving the ball to all parts of the field.

If the Yanks can find a way to get both Voit and Bird consistent at-bats this season I truly believe they’re each going to be impact players. However, as much as I’m still high on Bird if there’s going to be an odd man out when Hicks returns it has to be him. It might not be fair, but if that’s their only option then that’s the way it’s going to be.

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I hope that doesn’t happen and the Yankees keep him on the roster, but there’s just no scenario that makes sense that ends with Voit being sent down. What he’s accomplished since coming to New York has been incredible and like I said now that’s he finally been given an opportunity to play every day he’s only going to get better.

The Yankees would be crazy to stop his rise to potential stardom by sending him down and they know that. It’s time to end the discussion on the debate about who should be sent down between Voit and Bird because honestly there’s a 0% percent chance it’s going to be Voit.

The Yankees still have some time left before they’ll have to make a decision and whether or not Bird gets sent down will most likely depend on how much he produces while Hicks is out. But in the case of Luke Voit, I can assure Yankee fans he isn’t going anywhere.