What Yankees Neil Walker is thinking about Greg Bird’s imminent return

Utility man Neil Walker is hitting .353 over his last 11 games, raising his season average from .163 to .219. With Tyler Austin raking, is Walker going to lose his roster spot with first baseman Greg Bird returns from the disabled list?

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ARLINGTON, Texas — Neil Walker didn’t know exactly what he was throwing himself into when his longer-than-expected offseason as a free agent finally ended on March 12 when he signed with the Yankees for one year at $4 million.

Walker knew how good the Yankees were last year and could be this season, but initially he wasn’t fully aware how deep his new club was in every area.

He does now.

“You look at teams, especially in spring training, and you think about what kind of holes there may be, whether it be offensively, defensively or pitching staff, relievers, whatever,” Walker said Monday night after the Yankees’ made it 22 wins in their last 25 games with a 10-5 thumping of the Texas Rangers. “In my opinion, there are no holes on this team. Guys, whenever their number is called, whether it’s (Ronald) Torreyes or whomever … guys are stepping up and pushing each other in the right direction. Pitchers are competing with one another.

“This is a really fun group to be around.”

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After not hitting much at all in April, the switch-hitting infielder has been a frequent contributor this month, and the Yankees’ latest win was his best game.

Walker’s 2-for-5 night included a bloop RBI double in the second inning and a first homer of the season in the fourth, both coming off Big Sexy, his 44-year-old former Mets teammate Bartolo Colon. And Walker did it as a starter at third base for the first time this year and 18th time in 10 big-league seasons.

“First, second, third … it doesn’t bother me,” said Walker, who mostly has been platooning at first with Tyler Austin. “I’ve been prepared for all three positions since I’ve been here. This was just the first time I was at third.”

Walker’s versatility and recent production is what could keep him on the Yankees’ roster when starting first baseman Greg Bird comes off the DL and begins his season, probably by early-to-mid next week.

Walker is hitting just .219, but he’s has been hot of late with a .353 average, 12 hits, seven RBIs and eight walks over his last 11 games. And now he has a homer, too.

“I’ve felt well since May rolled around,” Walker said. “I’m seeing the ball well. It’s nice to get one over the fence. Obviously that took a while, but more than that, I feel like I’m having productive at-bats.”

Still, Walker’s roster spot is far from guaranteed because the Yankees, as of Monday, are back to carrying just three extra position players again and Austin has been killing left-handed pitching to the point he’s leading all rookies in homers (8) and RBIs (23).

If the Yankees drop from 13 to 12 pitchers when Bird returns, can manager Aaron Boone create sufficient playing time for Austin and Walker to coexist as reserves?

“We’ll see,” Boone said. “We’re not there yet. Birdie’s got to get through this week and we’ll keep evaluating where we are each day. The more versatility that we can create with these guys allows us to keep guys fresh and keep guys getting at-bats.

“We’re preparing and thinking about that kind of stuff, but it’s also cross that bridge when we get there.”

A starter at second base for most of his career, Walker says he’ll happily accept any role to remain a Yankee.

“Absolutely,” he said. “With the way the offseason went, I much would rather be in a place like this where maybe I’m not playing as much as I would somewhere else and having the opportunity to win a championship.

“Whatever I’m asked to do when Greg comes back, I’m willing to do it.”

Brandon Drury’s DL stint due to eye issues and then option to Triple-A led to rookie Miguel Andujar stealing the starting third base job, but Walker playing there on Monday perhaps will lead to a couple weekly starts there when Bird returns.

“I feel like I’m ready for any challenge that is thrown at me,” Walker said. “Obviously I haven’t played a ton of third base, but I have played some in the last year, most recently in mid-August when I got traded (from the Mets) to the Brewers.

“I knew in spring training it was a possibility, so I tried to take as many groundballs as I could in the limited amount of time that I had.”

Decision time is coming soon for the Yankees.

Will they keep Austin, who can be optioned, or will they keep Walker?

Or will they find a way to keep both?

“I honestly haven’t thought about it,” Walker said. “It’s a good problem for a team to have. We’ll see what happens.”

Randy Miller may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @RandyJMiller. Find NJ.com on Facebook.