New York Yankees name Greg Bird starting first baseman

March 22 (UPI) -- Swatting the second-most home runs in spring training so far hasn't hurt Greg Bird's rising stock to become the New York Yankees' starting first baseman.

The 24-year-old is hitting .439 with six home runs and 11 RBI in 17 games this spring. There was some concern over who would be starting at the position, as Bird was recovering from labrum surgery. The Yankees also signed Chris Carter before its spring workouts.

But on Wednesday morning, Yankees skipper Joe Girardi confirmed that Bird will be the team's starter. In 2015, Bird hit .261, with 11 home runs and 31 RBI, in 46 games for the Yankees. He played for the Scottsdale Scorpions last season in the Arizona Fall League, hitting .203 with two home runs and 19 RBI.

"It's always nice. I felt good in the offseason," Bird told MLB.com. "I felt like my swing was where I wanted it to be. At the end of '14, I felt like what I could do then was cool. Now in the offseason I felt like I got that back. I was just excited to get at-bats and get back playing, really."

Bird had two home runs and five RBI in the Yankees 7-3 win Wednesday against the Philadelphia Phillies.