Pittsburgh Review

On July 29, 2024, the Pittsburgh Pirates announced the acquisition of several prospects at this year's Trade Deadline. One notable addition is Nick Yorke, a second baseman and left fielder currently playing for Triple-A Indianapolis.

Yorke's journey has been marked by significant challenges and achievements. "Shoulder surgery limited Yorke to serving as the designated hitter while he was a California high school junior," according to a Pipeline scouting report. The pandemic further impacted his senior season, reducing it to just five games. Despite these setbacks, the Boston Red Sox selected him as a surprise first-round pick in 2020 and signed him for an under-slot $2.7 million.

During his professional debut in 2021 with Single-A Salem, Yorke led the team in hitting (.323) and OPS (.913), establishing himself as one of the best pure hitters in the Minor Leagues. Although he struggled to replicate those numbers in 2022, he showed improvement at Double-A in 2023 and continued this positive trend upon moving to Triple-A this season. This performance attracted the Pirates' attention, leading them to acquire him close to the Trade Deadline in exchange for Quinn Priester.

Yorke is recognized for his right-handed swing and hand-eye coordination, which enable him to hit for a high average. However, consistency has been an issue as he experimented with his setup and became more pull-oriented over the past two seasons. Improvements were noted during his time with Worcester this year. While he excels against fastballs, he struggles with breaking balls and changeups. His bat speed and strength suggest potential for producing up to 20 home runs per season, though current evaluations see him more as an everyday player rather than a star.

In terms of other skills, Yorke's tools are considered fringy but functional. He possesses good baserunning instincts and occasionally steals bases. Defensively, he's viewed as surehanded but not particularly athletic or rangy. Boston's internal metrics rate him higher at second base compared to external assessments; however, his limited arm strength restricts his versatility despite showing promise in left field during 2024.

The Pirates traded from their depth in starting pitchers to bolster their lineup with young hitters like Yorke. They believe his athleticism makes him a viable option for outfield positions—a crucial need given their current lack of guaranteed outfield production beyond Bryan Reynolds. Additionally, they are looking for another significant right-handed bat in their lineup; while Yorke may not yet fulfill that role completely, he has potential.

Yorke is expected to make an impact by 2024.