SARASOTA, Fla. — Greg Bird’s sweet swing was on display Monday at Ed Smith Stadium. It cut through the late February heat for two doubles, giving the Yankees an early indication the first baseman will be able to shrug off missing all of last season due to right shoulder surgery.
While the shoulder seemed fine, the mental side of Bird’s game needed to be sharper. He was thrown out at third base twice in six innings on infield ground balls.
“Bad reads, plain and simple,’’ Bird said after the Yankees topped the Orioles, 4-1.