There was a time when Greg Bird appeared to be a future star with the New York Yankees.
He had burst onto the scene in 2015, belting 11 homers in just 178 plate appearances. Bird appeared to be set to solidify first base for the Yankees, a potential young star at just 22 years old. However, he missed the entire 2016 season when he aggravated an existing shoulder injury prior to spring training. He was unable to return to form afterwards, making his last major league appearance in 2019.
Greg Bird still trying to recapture New York Yankees magic
That has not stopped Bird from attempting to recapture the magic from that 46 game run. He has bounced around baseball, spending time with four different organizations since being released by the Yankees after the 2019 season. A return to the Yankees, and a brief stint in the Frontier League in 2023, did not go as planned. Now, he is hoping to show that he can be the player he once was in the Australian Baseball League as he signed with the Melbourne Aces.
Bird is still relatively young, turning 31 years old in a couple of weeks. In theory, he should be in the middle of his prime. He should be one of the top sluggers in the game, looking at a large payday in free agency. Instead, his professional career could be hanging on by a thread due to his injury woes.
A strong showing in Australia would help as he looks to resurrect his career. All it takes is one team, whether stateside or in Asia, to give him a chance. From there, Bird will need to prove that he can stay healthy and that he has something left in the tank. That may be the hardest part of the process.
Former New York Yankees first baseman Greg Bird is heading to Australia. This may be his last chance to rebuild his career.
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