Nick Yorke Is More Than Just A Hitter
By Rodger M. Wood
In the second game of a doubleheader May 30th against Myrtle Beach Pelicans' RHP prospect Richard Gallardo, hitting a mere 195 BA, Nick Yorke's bat suddenly exploded for a double and a single in 3 AB, igniting a 5-game hitting streak, with 10 hits for next 15 AB, including 3 doubles and a triple..
It took the 19 -year old Salem Red Sox 2B just 24 games into the 2021 season to adjust to the older Low A - pitchers and start proving that Red Sox chief baseball officer, Clair Bloom, was right when he predicted stardom for the Boston #1 (17th overall) pick in the 2020 Draft, "We love this kid's bat, and think this youngster has a chance to be a special bat, who is going to play the infield."
Nick Yorke Started Blistering the Ball May 30th
While Yorke finished his Archbishop Mitty (San Jose CA) amateur career hitting 457 with 134 hits, including 49 extra base hits, 77 RBI in 94 games, a shoulder injury during his junior year in 2019 relegating him to designated hitter, and eventually requiring surgery, and a COVID shortened five game season limited the number of games scouts could see him play the field and probably discouraged some teams from drafting him in a early round. The Red Sox still thought the youngster would not be available if they had waited longer to pick him in the draft.
Yorke Goes to the Plate Knowing What Pitch He Wants to Hit
Several other scouts agreed with Bloom's assessment. Before the draft, he was rated one of the best prep hitters on the West Coast, and by Baseball America, the 96th best prospect entering the draft, by MLB Pipeline 139th, and FanGraph the 165th. The key to hitting is a player's approach at the plate. Boston Red Sox scouts compared his approach to Kevin Youkilis', Baseball America to Toronto Blue Jays' Cavin Biggio's.
Explaining why he thought the Red Sox drafted him in the first round, Yorke told MLB Pipeline, "I'm more of a blue collar, put - your-head down, go-to-work kind of a guy. Wherever I played ball, I played my hardest and the Red Sox fortunately saw me at one of those times and the rest is just what happened."
He was committed to Arizona State before the draft but the Red Sox changed his mind with a $2.7 million dollar signing bonus. A month shy of his 19th birthday, the Red Sox started him off working out with the parent club in 2021 Spring Training . Red Sox manager Alex Cora gave him a chance to play in a couple games with the big club. He reached base 5 of his first 6 AB, and hit 231 in 16 major league AB, including a double off major league pitcher Matt Hall. Cora .was impressed with the youngster's performance, work ethic and demeanor. While he was a shortstop in high school, the Red Sox, feeling his arm range, and speed made him a better fix at a different position, decided to convert him to 2B.
Nick Yorke Can Make the Throws at 2B
He has more than a designated hitter potential - showing some speed in 72 GP at Salem, he has stolen 11 bases and is exhibiting some saviness and wider.range at 2B. He turns a nice double play and has the instincts and athleticism to be a good position player.The fear that his arm strength has not returned after his shoulder injury is not been supported by his performance.
Nick Yorke Is a Good Fit at 2B
In games against the FredNats in May, June, July, I sat on the 3B side of the stands hoping to get a shot of Nick following through on a full swing with his face looking toward my camera. In the plate appearances those games,he swung a compact swing, took the pitchers deep into the count, and used the full field. He went to the plate with a strategy and seemingly anticipated some of the pitches thrown by the pitcher. He was a 19 -year hitter who was far better prepared for the pitcher's arsenal than most the other older players on the field.
Since that hot May 30th Sunday afternoon, Yorke went on a torrid hitting streak, 348 BA, HR, 7 RBI in 26 GP in June, 358 BA, 2 HR, 11 RBI in July, and 386 BA, 5 HR, 13 RBI 14 GP in August. In 72 GP, 276 AB, 326 PA, the 2021 season, he's hitting 312 BA, 8 HR, 40 RBI, and 471 SLG. His super talent is starting to blossom and he is proving himself to be more than just a hitter - he is showing more leadership qualities and making the tougher plays at 2B. As Red Sox management predicted, Nick Yorke is now showing he has a "special bat" and can can play 2B.