Yankees: 8 players unable to live up to the hype

1B Greg Bird (2015-2019)

Once thought of as the heir apparent to All-Star first baseman Mark Teixeira, a laundry list of injuries left Greg Bird out of what looks to be a team destined for greatness over the next decade.

Bird entered the fold at the end of the 2015 season and he shined for a stretch, posting a .261/.343/.529 line, mashing 11 homers and 31 RBI in 46 games. With Tex’s career winding down, Bird had the keys to the first base job, unfortunately, a torn labrum forced him to miss the 2016 season.

At the time, it seemed like a freak injury. Bird, who looked like a professional hitter in his rookie campaign would be back in 2017 ready to take over as the Yanks long-term answer at first base.

Unfortunately, 2017 would mean more injury problems and serious concerns about Bird’s durability began to surface. As the Yanks went through the majority of their 2017 season with Chris Carter, Ji-Man Choi, and Garrett Cooper at first base. Bird was able to suit up in 48 games and make the postseason roster.

Bird was a hero in Game 3 of the 2017 ALDS, hitting a moonshot off Andrew Miller to give the Yankes a 1-0 lead and their first of three straight wins to upset the defending pennant winners, the Cleveland Indians.

His strong postseason performance that year (he posted a .900-plus OPS in the Division Series and League Championship Series) gave him a great leash heading into the 2018 campaign, despite the injury concerns.

In terms of health, Bird was able to appear in 82 games (a career-high) in 2018 but his numbers were putrid. He hit under the Mendoza line and it opened the door for Luke Voit to step in and take over as the everyday option at first.

2018 would essentially mark the end of the road for Bird as foot and ankle injuries continued to impact him for the rest of his tenure in New York.

It’s tough to see a promising player’s career fall apart because of injuries. Bird was a professional during his struggles, working to rehab and answering the media during his slumps and had the fans were behind him as homegrown talent began to litter the roster but his lack of availability kept him off the organization’s radar.

What made his downfall with the team so disappointing was the spring training hype that surrounded him seemingly every season. Yankees fans well know the headlines that read something like, “Bird looking healthy and impressing at camp”. Before a week passed by and he ended up injured.

Even heading into the 2020 season, Texas Rangers fans are getting their taste of the Bird hype machine.