The Phillies signed Greg Bird to a minor league contract Sept. 15, but the first baseman tested positive for the coronavirus upon physical entry after that, Matt Breen of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. Consequently, the Phillies did not place Bird on their 40-man playoff roster. Fortunately, though, none of the Phillies at the team’s alternate site were exposed to Bird.
The Phillies signed Bird as a potential insurance policy at first base, where starter Rhys Hoskins hasn’t played since Sept. 12 because of a UCL injury in his left arm. It now seems likely the Phillies, who are battling for a playoff spot, will have to go the rest of the regular season without Hoskins. They’ve used a mix of Alec Bohm, Phil Gosselin and Jay Bruce in Hoskins’ place, while Jean Segura has taken over for Bohm as their primary third baseman and Scott Kingery has slid in for Segura at second.
Meantime, it’s very much up in the air whether Bird will ever play for the Phillies, though the main hope for now is that he’ll be able to recover well from this illness. Once a well-regarded Yankees prospect, Bird burst on the scene in 2015, but a series of health issues have derailed his career since then. The 27-year-old took 522 trips to the plate from 2017-19 but could only muster a .194/.287/.388 line, and Bird didn’t stick with the Rangers for long after they signed him over the winter.
Hope for a full recovery and a resumption of what seemed like a promising career.
Big news! Greg Bird is Larry Bird´s third cousin twice removed. He is also a second cousin of Big Bird.
Bird flu
Accurate.
bring up Hall. we need someone whp can actually play 1B. number of balls hit up the line is absurd.
Sigh.
I might be a much happier person if I stopped being a Phillies fan. I think I’ll try it.
Well right no I’m cheering for the Rangers to lose, so… it could be worse.
I’ll trade my Pirate blood for your Phillie blood.
Yeah, he should watch the Pirates for a while. Then, he’ll go back to the Phillies saying “at least they try”.
Explains why he never played for the Phils I guess. I feel like he would have gotten priority over Moniak’s call up.
Just a speed bump on his trip down the road to Cooperstown…
It might be awhile until he can safely travel to NY.
Great comment, Briffle. Haha.
“Fortunately, though, none of the Phillies at the team’s alternate site were exposed to Bird.” This made me laugh when thinking of it out of context.
As for the Bird himself, I hope he recovers. I personally don’t mind him as a player, and even if you do, don’t be cheering for someone to get a virus.
The most Greg Bird thing Greg Bird could do.
It’s never ending with this guy. It’s always an injury or now this. Seems like a lifetime ago he hit that HUGE home run off Andrew Miller
Joey? No limits Bub.
Error! Joe error!
Well said
Man.
I absolutely feel for Bird. Jeeez, he started off so well in MLB.
But his career is to the point where I thought, “well of course he did” when I read the headline.
Joey? No limits bub.
Error! Joe, Error!
The guy had 522 AB’s… And batted .194 with an OBP of 280… The Yankees held on to him way longer than they should’ve… He musta had naked pictures of Hal’s wife…I got tired of hearing everybody say what a sweet swing he had meanwhile he struck out half the time it was a below average first baseman
Bird suffers from Ellsbury itis Always hurts or sick
Boo boo Bird
I think it is called bur(d)sitis
Considering how much this guy has been passed around this season, it not surprising he picked it up. I’d be surprised if Carson Fulmer doesn’t catch it as well.
Also reportedly has the Avian Flu !!
Sheesh, he would
Funny, shouldn’t it be ” bird flu?”
Greg Bird continues to be unable to stay healthy. Feel bad for him. Get well soon.
Sorry Bird, we’ve got to put you in a cage for a while but don’t you worry you’ll be RELEASED soon.
I’m 99.8% sure he’ll be ok.
I am sure the Phillies can find someone to get 2 at bats, sneeze and pull a muscle like Bird does yearly.
bird can never stay on the field now he has the virus in the past he had all kinds of injuries which have ruined his baseball career
The 2017 Spring Training MVP.
Man.
Right!?
Remember in ’15 he came up & in 176 PA’s he hit 11 jacks, 9 doubles, & drew 19 BB’s. It really felt like he was the beginning of a new wave of young Yankee studs. With that swing it seemed like he’d be a lock for 35 jacks/year. He wasn’t Tex, but he certainly wasn’t a bad first baseman.
The huge home run off Miller…and, yeah, he was great in spring training too.
Injuries, man. I think the shoulder sapped some of his power, and all those foot/ankle problems then completely derailed a promising career.
I’d take him on a Milb deal in 2021….especially if the DH sticks in the NL.
Kid has talent, he’s shown that…..just needs to get a better handle on MLB breaking balls. He’s not the first and he won’t be the last.
This guy can’t get a health break. Hopefully this one is a minor bump in the road.
Lol. Can’t catch a break!
Wasted signing in a wasted year by a waste of a Phillies GM.