If returning to baseball means waking up early with three-hour workouts each day, then cross Mark Teixeira’s name off the list.
The 36-year-old first baseman, who retired from the Yankees at the end of last season, hasn’t the slightest interest in picking up a bat or glove again. But Teixeira is looking forward to New York’s upcoming competition at his former position, and has already started to sing the praises of one of the contestants.
“I am a big fan of Greg Bird,’’ Teixeira said on Wednesday night at the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center in Little Falls, N.J. “What he proved two years ago in the 2015 season, coming in and really performing at a high level, we know the talent is there. I loved the way he handled himself in the clubhouse. I love the way he handled himself with the media. So he has everything it takes.”
Bird burst onto the scene as a 22-year-old rookie in mid-August of 2015, when Teixeira suffered a season-ending right shin fracture. In 46 games, Bird hit .261 with 11 home runs and 31 runs batted in, but hasn’t played since due to right shoulder surgery which caused him to miss all of 2016.
The now 24-year-old played over a dozen games in the Arizona Fall League this winter, and is expected to battle rookie Tyler Austin for the starting gig at the corner bag.
While Teixeira added that he won’t serve as a guest instructor during spring training in Tampa, Fla. to guide Bird through the process, he did however lend the youngster some advice.
“He’s coming off a major shoulder surgery. He might be a little rusty. And I would just tell him, ‘Listen, you’re not going to hit your 30 home runs in April. I went through it as much as anybody. You’re going to have ups and downs,” Teixeira said. “But everything is there for Greg Bird and the experience of playing in Yankee Stadium already is going to be a huge asset for him moving forward.
“Everybody has my phone number. If a guy like Birdie or anybody wants to call me, I’d love to help out anybody. But last thing I want to do right now is go to spring training and hang out.”
If you want to connect with Tom Hanslin, email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @tomhanslin.
