Updates on Greg Bird, Bryan Mitchell

With the Yankees in Tampa, a few familiar faces stopped by Tropicana Field to say hello before tonight's game.

Greg Bird and Bryan Mitchell, who are rehabbing injuries at the Yankees' nearby minor league complex, were at the ballpark earlier today to see their teammates and to offer some news on their recovery.

Mitchell is on his way back from a broken toe which he suffered in spring training covering first base. He was a longshot for the rotation coming into the season, but certainly pitched well enough to be a long man out of the pen. He threw a handful of innings in a rain-shortened simulated game, and said his foot feels great. The next step would be a rehab assignment which could come as early as next week.

Bird, who underwent shoulder surgery in the offseason, will begin to take some swings next week. He said he's still probably two or two-and-a-half months away from being in baseball shape, but there's no set timetable. If everything progresses well and there are no setbacks, Bird said he expects to play in the Arizona Fall League, which would help him get tuned up for spring training in 2017.

YES Network's Meredith Marakovits sat down with Bird recently to discuss his shoulder injury and his recovery: