Greg Bird comes to Texas Rangers camp early, healthy, ready to compete at first base
Feeling healthy again and with a job to win, Greg Bird is a week early to Texas Rangers spring training.
Once a top New York Yankees prospect, Bird was designated for assignment in November after four injury-plagued seasons. He thought his best chance at a big-league job was to sign a minor-league contract with the Rangers.
Ronald Guzman has a tenuous hold on the job, in part because he is on the 40-man roster and because he is terrific defensively.
That spot is up for grabs this spring, and Bird is ready.
“American League, good opportunity, good team,” Bird said. “A team that has a chance to compete and win. That’s what I want to be a part of.
“Everything kind of played out. I’ve never been through that. I didn’t even know about [the Rangers] in the beginning. We weren’t really even talking about this at all. But as the off-season goes, pieces fall, guys go here and there, this one presented itself and it was good.”
First and foremost, of course, Bird must prove to the Rangers that he is healthy. He said his plantar fasciitis from last season is fine, and he reported no ill-effects otherwise despite past injuries to his shoulder, ankle and knee.
He played briefly in the Dominican Winter League this off-season, batting just .125 in only 24 at-bats, but it was enough to tell him that he was trending the right way.
If he can stay healthy, he can get the consistent at-bats that have been missing since his rookie season in 2015. He knows injuries have knocked him off course, but they have also given him perspective.
“That’s life,” he said. “I guess it has been a good learning experience. Confusing at times. But that’s how it goes. You have to deal with it, get up and focus on what you have to do that day. It teaches you that mind-set. Never too high, never too low. Got to keep going and keep working.”
