| |
Physical Description: Sturdy
frame. Filled out for his age. Thick lower half. Lost 25 pounds
between his draft year and first full pro season. Minimal
remaining projection, but could stand to add some strength.
Hit: Typically has started open with his
hands by his chest. In 2022 Arizona Fall League, experimented
with starting with his hands up and bat pointed behind him
before getting to the same load position. Tried that in early
2023, but reverted back to his setup with his hands by his
shoulders and a quieter load midyear. Utilizes a slight leg lift
timing device. Solid feel for hit. Has bat speed and a fluid,
compact swing. Two-handed finish. Good barrel control. Willing
to use all fields, but did get pull-happy in 2022 at times as he
tinkered with his mechanics. Has shown the ability to turn on
velocity up in the zone already, but has become more susceptible
to breaking pitches down in the zone as he has moved through the
system. Has also had some struggles against fastballs in the
zone in the high-minors. Still needs to show he can make
consistent contact against advanced pitching. Potential average
hit tool.
Power: Average raw power. Has
shown the ability to impact the baseball. Power potential is
somewhat limited by swing path, which is more designed for hard
line drives, but has shown the ability to drop the barrel and
drive the ball with backspin. Potential fringe-average in-game
power.
Run: Below-average speed. Solid
baserunning instincts. Could get slower as he ages.
Field: Average range and has soft hands. Can be
robotic at times and a little stiff. Comfortable charging the
ball and throwing on the run. Has a chance to stick at second
base, but will never be a standout defender. Played shortstop in
high school but moved to second base after signing. Began to
work out at other positions in spring training 2024 to increase
his versatility. Potential fringe-average defender.
Arm: Fringe-average arm strength.
|
|
Career Notes: Mother was a
four-time All-American softball player at Fresno State. Came
onto the organization’s radar because of Fresno State connection
between his mother and scout Josh Labandeira. Brothers Joe and
Zach play college baseball at Cal Poly-SLO (after transferring
from Boise State when that school cut its baseball program) and
Grand Canyon University, respectively. Had shoulder surgery
before his junior year and was limited to DH duty that spring
while his shoulder healed. Selection in the first round
surprised many and defied public draft rankings, but Red Sox
were convinced both that he would have been regarded as a
first-round talent if he had a full spring season and that he
would not have been available when the team picked next in the
third round. Was added to the Club Player Pool very late in the
2020 season, impressing with quality at-bats against much older
competition in about a week-and-a-half at the Alternate Training
Site. Participated in the 2020 Fall Instructional League.
Participated in the 2021 Fall Performance Program. Participated
in 2022 Winter Warm-Up. Entered the 2022 season as a consensus
top 50 prospect in the game. Struggled through multiple injuries
in 2022, missing roughly a week-and-a-half in May/June with turf
toe, two weeks in June due to back stiffness, and another two
weeks in July with left wrist soreness that briefly returned
during the Arizona Fall League, costing him about another week.
Unclear to what degree the injuries contributed to his down
season. Had a healthy, fairly uneventful 2023 in which he played
in the Futures Game and regained some of his prospect stock.
Participated in the Red Sox Rookie Development Program in
January 2024.
Summation: Potential
bat-first utility type. Ceiling of an everyday regular. 2022 was
a step back after his breakout 2021 season, but that could
partially be attributed to injuries and he bounced back
reasonably well in 2023. Tools are not loud, but if he can
retain his contact ability against advanced pitching, has the
potential for average hit and power tools. Strong makeup and
work ethic. Does not project to add much value defensively, but
has improved to the point where he can be passable at second
base. Bat would be more valuable at second base, but will
potentially play elsewhere if he is unable to stick there, and
the organization has begun to get him work at other positions to
give hm more of a chance to fit on a major league roster. Injury
history is somewhat concerning and will need to be monitored
throughout his career.
Links
Red Sox select Nick Yorke with 17th overall pick (6.10.20)
Video from Pawtucket (9.22.2020)
Scout Chatter (11.24.2020)
Scouting Report Update (3.10.2021)
Notes from the Field (5.15.2022)
Countdown to Spring Training (3.13.2023)
Spring Training
Video (3.22.2023) |
|
