Yorke Making Most of Late Season Call-up with Pirates

Nick Yorke is fun to watch play ball for the Pittsburgh Pirates. After Thursday afternoon’s loss to the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park, 2-1, the Pirates flew to Atlanta. The final three games of the MLB regular season schedule for the Buccos are against the Braves. Pittsburgh’s record is 69-90, before Friday’s game at Truist Park.

This time of year, clubs expand rosters from 26 to 28 players. Some players, pitchers, and position players who have had statistically successful seasons in the minor leagues, particularly at the Triple-A level, tend to receive an invitation to demonstrate their skill level with the MLB club.

When the rosters expanded on September 1, Yorke got the call from the Pirates. After appearing in 14 spring training games for the Pirates, in the final week of cuts, Yorke was assigned to the Indianapolis Indians of the International League. Yorke, 23, had a decent season with the Indians, having played in 103 games. He swiped 17 bases, smacked 115 hits, and collected 59 RBIs.

It was Yorke’s strong August performances with the Indians that made the decision easier for Pittsburgh’s baseball operations staff to promote the former Boston Red Sox first-round draft selection in 2020. He was selected as Indianapolis’ August player of the month, by going 34-95, and hitting .358.

It seems that with every camera shot of the Pirates’ dugout during the games, when Yorke is in the picture, he always seems to be laughing, smiling, and just being a happy ballplayer. He brings energy to the club.

Yorke is being given ample time in the field and at bat by the Pirates to define himself. Since joining the club, Yorke has been in manager Don Kelly’s lineup at first base, second base, third base, and in right field. With three games remaining on the schedule, thus far, Yorke has appeared in 19 games. Last season, when Yorke made his MLB debut with the Pirates, he saw action in 11 games.

As he continues to search for a home in the Pirates’ lineup, Yorke has shown bursts of power with his bat. This past Tuesday in a game against the Reds, York went 2-4 and contributed an RBI to Pittsburgh’s 4-2 win. His .217 batting average should be a focal point for him to work on in the off-season. The Pirates are stacked with a talented pitching staff, but their .231 overall team batting average will no doubt be addressed in the free agent market.

Since coming to the Pirates this month, Yorke has registered, in 60 at-bats, 13 hits, one home run, and eight RBIs. The more repetitions he gets, the more comfortable Yorke should get in whatever position he’s put in. With two tastes of what it feels like to be on the MLB roster, when spring training comes in February, Yorke no doubt should be invited to the Pirates’ camp.

The guy the Pirates are hoping for in 2026 is who, on August 23 in an Indians game played at the Syracuse Mets, went 3-5 and drove in five runs. Once the exhibition schedule kicks off the Grapefruit League in February, it’s likely Yorke gets a lengthy look by Kelly and his coaching staff. 2026 could be the year Yorke sticks with the club for the season opener at Citi Field in New York against the Mets.

Anything is possible when attempting to measure an athlete’s heart, his desire to succeed. Nick Yorke has demonstrated to have what it takes to succeed. Now, he must go out and execute.