TAMPA — Greg Bird entered spring training behind Luke Voit in the battle for the starting first-base job and embraced the competition.

After two straight seasons of coming back from right ankle surgeries, which limited the left-hand-hitting Bird to a combined 130 games in 2017 and 2018, he is feeling good.

“One hundred percent different, been able to start over and work from the ground up,’’ said Bird, who homered off Masahiro Tanaka in a simulated game Thursday morning. “I didn’t change anything. The last two weeks I have been looking forward to seeing live pitching.’’

Aaron Boone said earlier in the week that Bird added “good weight’’ to his 6-foot-4 frame, and Bird says he packed on 20 pounds to push the scale to 230.

“Not super intentional, I ate and worked out,’’ Bird said. “After the New Year I started lifting. If I am heavier and can move, I know I am in a good place.’’

As for the home run, Bird downplayed it.

“It’s a step in the right direction,’’ said Bird, whom the Yankees would like to add to a heavily right-handed lineup if healthy and productive. “I got to play and I am one step closer to playing.’’

Boone noticed that despite Bird’s problems a year ago — when he batted .199 with 11 homers and 38 RBIs in 82 games and was left off the postseason roster — there was a positive sign.

“Even last year when he was struggling at his most, he controlled the strike zone,’’ Boone said. “In his first at-bats [Thursday], we saw him impact the ball.’’

With MLB ready to introduce measures to keep teams from stealing signs, Boone said he understands how important it is to the home office.

“It is certainly a priority of Major League Baseball,’’ Boone said of the plan to forbid cameras other than for broadcasts from foul pole to foul pole. “There are going to be significant camera adjustment things that are happening in the outfield or being removed and limiting the amount of live feeds in video rooms and things like that. Hopefully it’s a positive step to curtail some of the things that do go on.’’

Nestor Cortes will start for the Yankees on Saturday against the Red Sox in Fort Myers in the first exhibition game, and Jonathan Loaisiga will face the Rays in Port Charlotte on Sunday.

Aaron Hicks, Gleyber Torres, Miguel Andujar and Bird are scheduled to make the 2½-hour bus ride to play against the Red Sox.

After firing a strike to second base after fielding a ground ball in PFP drills, Dellin Betances almost lobbed a ball over the catcher’s head the next time. Betances experienced issues throwing to bases in 2017 but not as much last season.

Through all of Gary Sanchez’s troubles a year ago — passed balls, the inability to block wild pitches and a .186 batting average — his throwing arm didn’t lose zip. Sanchez’s throws to bases in the early part of camp have been crisp and accurate.

Friday’s schedule: As has been a tradition, the final workout before exhibition games begin will be the shortest of the spring.