Coming into Spring Training, New York Yankees first baseman Greg Bird was determined to make the Opening Day roster and get his injury-plagued career back on track. But with the 2019 campaign slated to begin next Thursday, Bird’s chances of making the roster are now in jeopardy.
According to Lindsey Adler of The Athletic, Bird was scheduled to play this afternoon. However, he was sent back to Tampa to undergo x-rays on his sore elbow. He was hit by a pitch during Wednesday’s 2-1 loss to the Houston Astros, and initially wasn’t worried. But when Bird arrived to camp on Thursday morning, the team decided to send him in for x-rays.
Greg Bird was scheduled to play today but he came in this morning with some swelling and tightness where he was hit by a pitch yesterday above his elbow. Going back to Tampa now and will have x-rays.
— Lindsey Adler (@lindseyadler) March 21, 2019
Yankees manager Aaron Boone didn’t want Bird to play through the soreness because he was worried it would affect his mechanics. While there was a possibility of Bird playing during today’s game, Boone ultimately decided against it.
Bird was having an excellent Spring Training, hitting .342/.479/.658 with three homers and eight RBI’s. He was in competition with Luke Voit for the starting first base job, but with Aaron Hicks starting the season on the IL, both players were slated to make the roster.
UPDATE
The X-Ray and CT scan on Bird’s elbow both came back negative. Bird will likely play on Saturday or Sunday.
All is good with Greg Bird (elbow), according to Aaron Boone. The X-Rays and CT Scan came back negative. He’ll likely play Saturday or Sunday.
— Coley Harvey (@ColeyHarvey) March 21, 2019
