Nick Yorke got here into final season driving excessive. The former first-round choose had loved a spectacular first yr {of professional} baseball and was now set to take the following step upon incomes a promotion to High-A Greenville.
Then, it appeared like every part that might have presumably gone improper did.
“I ended up jamming my wrist when I was diving so I couldn’t swing for a couple of weeks, I had a back spasm so I was out for a couple weeks with that, I had turf toe so I couldn’t walk on my foot for a week,” Yorke stated previous to a current recreation. “So it was something constant, little things here and there.”
Yorke’s manufacturing cratered amid the seemingly unending run of accidents, and so did his standing throughout the wider prospect group. But now again to full well being, the 21-year-old second baseman has put his 2022 struggles behind him and is as soon as once more wanting like one in all Boston’s most promising younger gamers.
Since incomes a promotion to Double-A Portland out of spring coaching Yorke has been among the many most prolific offensive producers for a Portland membership that ranks first within the Eastern League Northeast standings. Entering Friday he was batting .269 with six house runs, 17 RBI and an .873 OPS via his first 35 video games with the Sea Dogs.
Those might not be fairly the numbers he put up throughout his electrical 2021 professional debut, when he slashed .325/.412/.516 with 14 house runs and 62 RBI as a 19-year-old, however they’re an entire lot higher than final yr’s comparatively dismal .232/.303/.365 displaying.
The large distinction? Staying on the sphere.
“I was playing a couple days, a couple weeks, then I was out a couple weeks, so it was tough trying to get my groove,” Yorke stated. “This year I’ve focused on being on the field, staying healthy, doing what I can for my body and making sure I can stay on the field and the consistent playing time of being in there every day has been good.”
There have been different elements at play, too. Yorke frolicked after the season taking part in within the Arizona Fall League, the place he completed the yr off on a excessive be aware, and Red Sox director of participant improvement Brian Abraham famous that Yorke has additionally integrated plenty of mechanical changes whereas working to enhance his bat velocity and general athleticism.
“I think all of those things combined, along with the added confidence and feeling comfortable mechanically, feeling comfortable physically, has allowed for more consistent ability to hit the ball hard to all fields,” Abraham stated.
That confidence has been evident to his teammates, lots of whom have been by his facet throughout his worst days final season.
“He’s very strong mentally right now. He’s grown a lot since I last played with him last year in Greenville,” stated fellow prospect Ceddanne Rafaela. “Now you see he’s enjoying the game, he’s just being himself. He’s one of the best hitters I’ve seen, so it’s special to be around him again.”
Turbulent because the journey has been at occasions, Yorke is now again on schedule and once more seems to be like a doable second baseman of the longer term. A giant league arrival sooner or later in 2024 appears doable, however whereas the membership is pleased with Yorke’s progress Abraham stated they need him getting extra at bats in Double-Some time engaged on his bat to ball capability and pull-side energy.
“I don’t think Nick or any of our hitters are going to be impact players at the big leagues if they’re just hitting singles all over the field, they need to hit the ball hard and hit the ball in the air and do damage,” Abraham stated. “Once you get that bat to ball and those foundational things prepared at the upper levels, those are the type of smaller areas we’re trying to improve upon.”
For his half, Yorke stated he’s excited to be in Portland however that he’s in no place to begin coasting. He vowed to maintain working as arduous as he can till he lastly achieves his large league desires, and Abraham believes the best way he’s dealt with the early adversity is an efficient indicator he has the best mindset to make these desires come true.
“One of the things I really like is he said no one is going to care about some struggles he had in High-A when he’s in the big leagues,” Abraham stated. “I think that mindset and that approach of challenging himself to get better every day is something he’s really embraced and has been really good to see.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com