Greg Bird has his feet back on the ground and is going about his business of being a New York Yankee.
Since being called up from Triple-A on Aug. 13, he been a huge asset to the Yankees in their bid to make the postseason. New York holds the top wild-card spot in the American League.
Just Tuesday night, Bird hit a game-winning, three-run homer against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Bird is a long way from his home in Aurora, where he attended Grandview High School, but he knows family members and friends are keeping up with the start of his major-league career.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi has been pleased with the rookie first baseman. Bird had big shoes to fill replacing Mark Teixeira, who had 31 home runs and 79 RBIs in 111 games before a fractured leg forced him out for the rest of the season.
“His offense has really been an asset to us. It’s the first thing that sticks out to you,” Girardi said of Bird by phone Tuesday. “He’s fit in nicely since he’s arrived, and we’ve needed him.”
Bird also hit a three-run homer Sept. 7 against Baltimore, and he hit two home runs in an Aug. 19 game. He entered Thursday night’s game batting .256 with 10 home runs and 28 RBIs in 35 games.
“There’s nothing better than playing for the New York Yankees,” Bird said by telephone from Toronto.
Bird, 22, who was drafted as a catcher in the fifth round of the 2011 June draft, obviously was revved up when he got the call to join the Yankees from Triple-A.
“There was a lot of excitement, but there was a lot of work, too,” Bird said. “The players made me feel I’m part of the team. That motivates me and keeps me going.”
Girardi credits Bird for fitting in.
“His personality is very even keeled,” Girardi said. “He doesn’t get too up or too down. It’s an impressive quality for such a young player. I think he’s been projected as a top-of-line, everyday first baseman, and he hasn’t done anything thus far for us to move from that projection. He’s a Yankee. He fits the bill.”
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296, imoss@denverpost.com or @irvmoss
