Nick Yorke was acquired by the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 29th last year from the Red Sox in exchange for Bucs SP Quinn Priester. Priester, a former top 100 prospect himself had trouble keeping the ball in the ballpark and surrendered too many hits. A change of scenery was needed.
So the Bucs decided to strengthen their weak MiLB position player prospect depth by acquiring Nick Yorke. Yorke improved his already solid performance in AAA after joining the Indianapolis Indians and got his cup of coffee in the majors at the end of the 2024 season. Yorke profiles as an average at best second baseman in the field, but also has experience at third and outfield. He is certainly a bat first prospect, and his bat has been solid.
Keith Law from The Athletic already ranks Yorke as his 50th prospect in MiLB. Yorke hasn't been ranked in other systems. Yorke mixes average to plus whiff rates with good exit velocity and hard hit rates. He also walks at around league average. With his bat, his biggest flaw is hitting against the slider against RHP which where the Pirates need some improvement from him. He doesn't seem overwhelmed in AAA with the slider, but it is his worst pitch that he will see often. He also has some trouble with a change in velocity with the changeup, but again it's not terrible. Against lefties he has struggled against the Curveball and slider but as with all pitches against either pitchers hand he has kept his whiff rates in check. He did have .500+ xSLG during his short time in the majors.
Overall he has just not shown any reason to doubt his bat, even with his brief MLB stint in 2024. He didn't make MLB Pipelines top 10 2B for 2025, but he clearly has a better bat than at least some on that list. For example looking at the Cub's James Triantos who is ranked as the 5th best 2B prospect by MLB Pipeline. Yorke had an OPS greater than .900 in AAA compared to James's sub .800 at the same level. Triantos has struggled against heat in AAA while Yorke has had no problem. Yorke has also hit break better. Triantos was a bit better at identifying change in velocity. Triantos is very good at not striking out compared to Yorke's league average whiff rate. However, Yorke ups Triantos bigly with EV and Hard Hit Rate.
To me, it seems Yorke is already due to be a top 100 prospect, certainly a top 10 2B but for the most part has not been given his due. I fully expect the Bucs to have 2 top 10 2B prospects by mid-season if Yorke is still prospect eligible by then.