Greg Bird is in the midst of a rehab assignment and the New York Yankees and fans should be encouraged by what they’ve seen so far.
Tonight was definitely for the birds. Greg Bird went 0-for-3 in Rochester while playing for Triple-A Scranton during his rehab assignment.
Do the New York Yankees want another 0-fer in their lineup? Not at all. However, this rehab stint has been telling in more ways than just how many bombs Bird can hit.
Rumors are swirling that Bird might be meeting up with the Yankees again on Friday and an 0-for-3 performance is not necessarily encouraging, is it?
But…it actually is. While the numbers say that Bird didn’t record any hits in the contest tonight, what they don’t tell you is the approach that Bird had at the plate.
Bird showed excellent patience, working into two 3-2 counts in his first two at-bats. He was watching pitches just off the plate, not biting on the fastballs on the outside corner. Of course, one of those was called strike three in his third at-bat of the evening.
He remained balanced during his at-bats, never once over-swinging or shifting his weight too far forward. Bird showed poise and confidence in his swing, which is something that was missing from his stint in the Bronx earlier this year.
On the defensive end, Bird played perfect defense, capped off by a stellar scoop to complete a 5-3 double play. His footwork was sharp, especially on all pick-off attempts from various Railriders pitchers.
All-in-all, Bird looked like a player who is ready to be back in pinstripes. He looked comfortable and confident in his skills on the field and at the plate.
Sure, he didn’t get a hit tonight. But what was more important was how he looked during his at-bats.
And I think it’s safe to say that Greg Bird will be joining the team soon, as he should be. He’s ready to make an impact on the Yankees.
