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Physical Description:
Athletic, sturdy frame. Filled-out for a high school pick. Thick
lower half. Lost 25 pounds between his draft year and first full
pro season. Some remaining projection, mainly in his upper body,
and needs to add strength still.
Hit:
Strong feel for hit. Starts square and utilizes a very slight
leg lift as a timing device. Has bat speed and a very fluid,
compact swing. Two-handed finish. Advanced contact skills. Good
barrel control. Advanced approach for his age. Willing to use
all fields. Needs to show the ability to turn on velocity, as he
has tended to push the ball the other way early in his career.
Potential above-average hit tool, but a long way to go between
what he is now and what he could be.
Power:
Average raw power. In-game power is still developing. Showed
more power during his brief senior season before it was shut
down.
Run: Below-average speed. Makes up
for his lack of speed with solid baserunning instincts.
Field: Played shortstop in high school but
moved to second base after signing. Solid instincts and
footwork. Comfortable charging the ball and throwing on the run.
Arm: Above-average arm strength.
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Career Notes: Had shoulder
surgery before his junior year and was limited to DH duty for
the season while his shoulder healed. Mother was a four-time
All-American softball player at Fresno State. Brother plays
baseball at Cal Poly-SLO after transferring from Boise State
when that school cut its baseball program. Attended the same
high school as Red Sox draft pick Aaron Bates, Mitch Haniger,
and Trevor Hildenberger. Selection in first round surprised many
and defied conventional talent rankings, but club was convinced
that he would have been more widely regarded as a first-round
talent with a full senior season and that he would not have been
available with their next pick. Was added to the Club Player
Pool very late in the 2020 season, getting roughly 10 days at
the Alternate Training Site, where he impressed with quality
at-bats against much older competition--he noted that the first
pitch he saw, a 98-mph fastball from Bryan Mata, was likely 10
mph faster than any pitch he had ever faced. Participated in the
2020 Fall Instructional League.
Summation:
Projects to be an offense-first second baseman. Long way to go
developmentally. Hit tool is more advanced, but is developing
power. Reportedly has great makeup. Injury history is somewhat
concerning. Organization believes he likely would have been more
highly regarded as a prep prospect had his senior year not been
shortened.
Note: This page will be updated with a
complete scouting report after the scouting team has seen the
player in person.
Links
Red Sox select Nick Yorke with 17th overall pick (6.10.20)
Video from Pawtucket (9.22.2020)
Scout Chatter (11.24.2020) |
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