After being traded from the Boston Red Sox to the Pittsburgh Pirates for RHP Quinn Priester and showing some good signs during his September call-up late last season, it was projected that the #6 ranked prospect would quickly make it on the 26-man roster to contribute toward a team that was supposed to be competing for a playoff spot.
With the Pirates falling off quickly in 2025, Nick Yorke wasn’t making a strong enough case to be in the big leagues. His overall numbers in 103 Triple-A games turned
out ok after a slow start, but dipped from 2024. In 2025, he hit .287/.406/.754 and only 7 home runs for the Indianapolis Indians after having an OPS over .900 between the Triple-A Worcester (Red Sox) and the Indians in 2024. He is now the 11th-ranked prospect in the organization.
The Pirates are hoping that his improvements in Triple-A since a dreadful start to the season will translate to the big leagues as he remains one of the September call-ups still on the roster. This past August, Yorke hit .333/.382/.446 over 110 plate appearances.
In 123games thus far for the Pirates, Yorke has hit .175, going 7-for-40. He played 11 games last year with the club, so maybe an extended stay over the next week and a half will help him settle in against MLB pitching. But time is running out for him to prove something in 2025.
From a defensive standpoint, Yorke started learning first base in the spring and will continue to show the Pirates what he can do there. His original position is second base, as well as experience in right and left field.
