dailyloe.com – New York Yankees reliever Jake Bird credits a pivotal minor-league assignment for his promising start with the team. Bird was acquired from the Colorado Rockies before last year’s trade deadline. He was immediately sent to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to refine his skills.
Bird specifically noted the career resurgence of pitcher Luke Weaver as an inspiration. Weaver also revived his career after joining the Yankees’ bullpen. This successful model motivated Bird during his own transition period.
His time in Triple-A allowed him to work closely with pitching coach Spencer Medick. Bird had briefly met Medick when the coach worked with Driveline Baseball. Their collaboration focused heavily on advanced pitch design and mechanics.
Bird stated his initial Yankees instruction was simply to ‘do your thing’. After his demotion, the focus shifted to rebuilding his early-season form. He worked systematically to correct the ineffectiveness he showed post-trade.
The right-hander did not let his initial struggles at SWB shatter his confidence. He maintained trust in the Yankees’ renowned player development system. Bird believed the organization excels at identifying and amplifying a pitcher’s strengths.
This data-driven, developmental approach is a hallmark of the Yankees’ operations. It has turned around the careers of several veteran relievers in recent seasons. Bird is now positioned to be the latest success story from this system.[]
Source: New York Post
