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Greg Bird “hopeful” to begin a rehab stint soon

Last week, general manager Brian Cashman told reporters that the Yankees could possibly send Greg Bird for exploratory surgery on his injured right ankle.

However, it appears that Greg Bird‘s ankle injury is making progress.

According to Chris Cotillo of MLB Daily Dish, Bird began doing baseball activities once again. The 24-year-old did drills and took batting practice with the club’s Single-A affiliate.

While in Staten Island, Bird told people within the organization that he hopes to begin a rehab assignment soon. That rehab assignment could be with either Double-A Trenton or Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

It has been a rough go for Bird, who has struggled to get back on the field. Since landing on the disabled list on May 2, Bird has continued to have setbacks, which have prolonged his much anticipated return to the Bronx.

In a report from Bill Madden of the New York Daily News,  a “Yankees Insider,” questioned Bird’s commitment to returning to the field. Bird responded to the criticism by telling reporters that he is doing everything he can to return to the field.

Bird’s injury status will have a major impact on the Yankees in the second half of the season. The Bronx Bombers have struggled to get production from the first base position. Having Bird’s presence in the everyday lineup could greatly benefit the team.

If Bird’s injury continues to sideline him, the Yankees will have to explore possible trade opportunities to acquire a first baseman. The trade deadline is just a few weeks away, which doesn’t give the Yankees much time to sort out Bird’s status for the remainder of the season.

Ideally, the Yankees would love to not have to trade for a first baseman before the deadline. Bird is more than capable of handling the position, but he will need to be healthy in order to do so.

Greg Bird will be a player to watch over the next couple of weeks. His injury status will play a major role in what direction the Yankees go in at this year’s trade deadline.