The latest rumors indicate the New York Yankees are promoting one of their top prospects to join the MLB roster. First baseman Greg Bird is expected to join the team on Thursday, according to Jack Curry of the YES Network.
Since Curry broke the news, a number of others have confirmed it:
The Yankees are promoting Greg Bird to the Majors. Check out his two-homer game last week: https://t.co/8lx3bznltU pic.twitter.com/OeS3Hfenrg
— MiLB.com (@MiLB) August 13, 2015
Now on https://t.co/qRp3KIlQpY: Bird is the word: Yanks reportedly calling up prospect https://t.co/iIjvjJP4PP
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) August 13, 2015
.@Yankees calling up top prospect Greg Bird, first baseman expected to back up Mark Teixeira https://t.co/0fhC3KtbMF - @FeinsandNYDN
— Andy Clayton (@aclayton33) August 13, 2015
The Yankees have yet to announce the transaction.
Bird, 22, was promoted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre earlier this season and has been there for 34 games. Over that stretch he's batting .301/.353/.500 with 15 runs scored, 6 home runs and 23 RBIs, which is thus far an improvement from his numbers in 49 games at Double-A Trenton (.258/.358/.445 with 29 runs scored, 6 home runs and 29 RBIs).
The Yankees' No. 4 overall prospect (according to Baseball America) won MVP of the Arizona Fall League (AFL) and Arizona Fall League All-Star Game in 2014. During the AFL he batted .313/.391/.556 with 21 runs scored, 6 home runs and 21 RBIs in 26 games and in the All-Star Game he went 1-for-4 with a home run and a walk in the AFL East's 6-2 victory.
New York (61-51) has lost five straight and seven of their last 10 to relinquish first place in the AL East, which now belongs to the Toronto Blue Jays. The Yankees' offense has been particularly awful since last week, scoring only nine runs in the past seven games, during which they are 1-6.
The club also needs some depth and adding Bird does just that. After designating Garrett Jones for assignment, the Yankees didn't really have a backup first baseman behind Mark Teixeira, but now Bird will be a definitive option.
After finishing their road series against the Cleveland Indians on Thursday, the Yankees will travel to Toronto for a crucial three-game set against the Blue Jays.
