Red Sox prospect Nick Yorke to be ‘introduced’ to another position while in minors
The Red Sox made several roster cuts on Monday, including assigning former 2020 first round pick Nick Yorke to the minors.
Yorke earned a non-roster invitee to spring training and struggled at the plate going 2-for-22 with three walks and seven strikeouts in 15 games.
The 21-year-old is ranked as the No. 6 prospect in the organization, according to SoxProspects. It’s expected that Yorke will start the season with either Triple-A Worcester or Double-A Portland.
The Red Sox are hoping that the infielder will add some additional position versatility to his resume while playing in the minors this season.
“I was just talking to Abes (director of player development Brian Abraham). I think they are going to introduce him to left field,”Alex Cora said to reporters. “He’s a good athlete. Big, strong and he moves well. He moves really well. So they are probably going to try to do that.”
At the start of camp, it was reported that Yorke could see some reps in the outfield. The Calif. native only saw reps at second base and at designated hitter, he did not log an inning in the outfield during a Grapefruit League game.
Yorke spent last season with Double-A Portland where he batted .268 with 13 homers, 61 RBIs and 18 stolen bases in 110 games.
With added versatility in the field, it will open more doors for Yorke to get opportunities as he continues to grow in the organization.
“He didn’t do much offensively,” Cora said. “It felt like he was in between the whole camp. He didn’t get too many opportunities because of lack of versatility. He played great at second base. The times he was on the bases, good instincts. But the offensive side of it, that was his ticket when he got drafted — he’s going to be an offensive middle infielder. And we’ve got to get back to that. I think now, slow things down, go do your work wherever he starts. PD (player development), they’ll determine that. Get his at-bats and get back to the hitter the organization envisioned when they drafted him in ‘20.”
