MLB: Yankees: Greg Bird has to undergo ankle surgery

The New York Yankees have another six to eight weeks without Greg Bird. First baseman needs surgery on his injured right ankle. This was announced by the franchise on Monday.

According to this, a small splintering outside of Bird’s ankle joint had to be surgically removed. The procedure is expected to result in a break of six to eight weeks.

Bird will undergo surgery on Tuesday in a hospital in Manhattan. Specialist Dr. Martin O’Malley will do the surgery.

The 25-year-old had left the field prematurely with pain in the Yankees’ Grapefruit League match on Saturday. After MRI and CT revealed inflammation, Bird visited O’Malley.

Last season Bird played only 48 league matches for the Yankees due to a persistent ankle injury. Only in August he had returned and once again proved to be valuable to the team.

In Bird’s absence, the Yankees could order Neil Walker to first base or bring Tyler Austin back from the Minor. It is also possible that Adam Lind, whom they tested in the camp, will be called back on 14 March. March however again releast had.