Why new, fan-favorite Yankees slugger is banged up

by Felix Pantaleón

Before a 7-2 win over the Twins at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minn. on Monday, September 10, 2018 (9/10/18), Yankees manager Aaron Boone updated reporters on first basemen Luke Voit and Greg Bird.

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MINNEAPOLIS — The Yankees‘ newest toy is a little broken.

First baseman Luke Voit has been dealing with a tight back and it was enough to factor into manager Aaron Boone‘s decision to start Greg Bird over him in a 7-2 win over the Twins at Target Field.

“We don’t think it’s anything too serious,” Boone said, referring to Voit’s injury. “But it’s also something where I felt (Voit) could benefit from a day today.”

9 Yankees on hot seat

Vot has been huge lately.

Taking over the struggling Bird, Voit has 20 hits in 56 at-bats with seven bombs since Aug. 24.

“Luke’s been so good for us and has kind of earned the everyday at-bats right now,” Boone said.

Bird went 0-for-3 with two walks, a strikeout and four left on base.

Entering Monday, Bird was hitting .116 with two homers and nine RBI in 25 games.

Here’s the Yankees’ press release from when they acquired Voit from the Cardinals at the trade deadline:

The New York Yankees tonight announced that they have acquired right-handed hitting 1B Luke Voit and international signing bonus pool money from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for LHP Chasen Shreve and RHP Giovanny Gallegos.

Voit, 27, appeared in eight games for the Cardinals this season, hitting .182 (2-for-11) with 2R, 1HR, 3RBI and 2BB. He has spent the majority of the season in the minors, combining with Triple-A Memphis (67G) and Double-A Springfield (2G) to bat .300 (72-for-240) with 36R, 16 doubles, 2 triples, 10HR, 37RBI, 32BB, a .392 OBP and a .900 OPS in 69 games. In 546 career minor league games, Voit owns a .288 (562-for-1,953) batting average with 264R, 105 doubles, 18 triples, 64HR, 305RBI, 229BB, a .370 OBP and an .828 OPS.

A native of Wildwood, Mo., he was originally selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 32^nd round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft before electing to go to college at Missouri State University. He was later drafted by the Cardinals in the 22^nd round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft to begin his professional career.

Brendan Kuty may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.