If you are wagering who will be the Yankees’ Opening Day first baseman and Mark Teixeira’s replacement next season, the early money is on Greg Bird.
The 23-year-old left-handed hitter is out for the season after undergoing surgery to repair a right shoulder labrum tear in early February. Since Teixeira’s contract expires following this season and he wasn’t coming back even before he announced he was retiring at the end of the season Friday, many have assumed Bird would be the successor.
Teixeira was 2-for-4 with a double in the Yankees’ 13-7 win over the Indians Friday.
In 46 games last year, Bird batted .261 with 11 homers and 33 RBIs.
Manager Joe Girardi said Bird will have competition from Tyler Austin, a former highly regarded prospect who fell off due to injury and has worked his way back into the big league picture with a splendid season this year at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
“Greg Bird is a young man who came up and did a really good job for us. Obviously he is coming off an injury and our hope is that he will play fall ball and he will be ready to go next year,” Girardi said of Bird, who is taking batting practice in Tampa.
Then there is Austin, a 22-year-old who was drafted in the 13th round in 2010, battled testicular cancer and was dropped from the 40-man roster last season.
“This is another guy we feel can come up and impact the team,” Girardi said of the right-handed hitting Austin, who was batting .319 with 13 homers, 47 RBIs and a 1.055 OPS going into Friday night’s action. “We are all excited from what we are seeing from Tyler Austin. Look at his numbers at Triple-A, they are off the charts. We feel that he is going to be an option. We feel that we have options in house. Tyler Austin was a big prospect for us and he went through some injuries. He is healthy and playing extremely well and something we will take a look at.”
That could set up a battle to replace Teixeira.
“I think there is going to be really good competition next year and it will bring out the best in both of them,” Girardi said. “For Greg Bird we have always believed in him. He has to prove he is healthy, that’s the most important thing and then you go from there.”
Lefty Justus Sheffield, acquired from the Indians for Andrew Miller this past Sunday, made his debut in the Yankees’ organization Friday night for Single-A Tampa against Daytona in a Florida State League game.
In six innings he allowed a run, two hits, fanned 11 and walked two.
Andy Pettitte threw batting practice to the Yankees and, no, he is not contemplating a comeback.
Miller recognized Teixeira’s accomplishments at the plate, but also included praise for Teixeira’s glove work.
“He was certainly a class act there and for all his hitting numbers he might be the best defensive first baseman I ever played with,” Miller said.
Terry Francona also heaped praise on Teixeira, calling him a model citizen and happy with the way the Yankees’ first baseman is leaving the game.
“I’m glad he is doing it on his own terms,” Francona said. “I wish he retired [Thursday] night.”
The Yankees are 4-1 against the AL Central-leading Indians this season and have outscored the Tribe, 38-34.
