NEW YORK -- Yankees first baseman Greg Bird, who displayed a powerful swing after making his major league debut last August, will miss this season because of a damaged right shoulder that needs surgery.
The Yankees said Monday that Bird's labrum will be repaired by Dr. David Altchek at The Hospital for Special Surgery on Tuesday. The team said the injury is a reoccurrence of one originally sustained last May.
Bird, who turned 23 in November, made his big league debut on Aug. 13 and took over at first base when Mark Teixeira got hurt. Bird hit with 11 homers, 31 RBI and nine doubles in 157 at-bats while hitting .261. He had been viewed as protection against injuries to the oft-hurt Teixeira, who is entering the final season of his contract.
Game notes
The Yankees claimed INF Ronald Torreyes off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels and designated OF Lane Adams for assignment. Torreyes made his major league debut last year with Dodgers, going 2 for 6. The Yankees got him in a trade Jan. 12, then designated him for assignment when they claimed Adams off waivers from Kansas City. The Angels claimed Torreyes on Jan. 25 and cut him two days later.