Torres, Bird among Yanks participating in AFL
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KANSAS CITY -- Infielder Gleyber Torres and first baseman Greg Bird will be among the notable names representing the Yankees in the Arizona Fall League, it was announced on Wednesday.
Torres, viewed as the prize of this summer's Aroldis Chapman trade with the Cubs, is ranked as the Yanks' No. 2 prospect by MLBPipeline.com and the No. 20 prospect in all of baseball. The 19-year-old is currently with Class A Advanced Tampa, where he has been the starting shortstop.
Bird, 23, hit 11 home runs last season for the Yankees, but he has missed the entire 2016 season following surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. With Mark Teixeira retiring, the Yankees have said that Bird and Tyler Austin could battle for at-bats at first base in '17.
The Yankees will also be represented on the Scottsdale Scorpions roster by right-handed pitcher Brody Koerner, infielder Miguel Andujar and outfielder Tyler Wade. Andjuar, 21, and Wade, 21, are currently with Double-A Trenton, while the 22-year-old Koerner is currently with Tampa.
Minor League infield coordinator Carlos Mendoza will serve as one of the club's hitting coaches and oversee prospects from the Angels, Giants, Mets, Phillies and Yankees systems.