Nick Yorke DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Pittsburgh Pirates infield prospect Nick Yorke (shoulder) was activated off the 7-day injured list at Triple-A on Friday. Yorke was only able to appear in the first four games of the campaign before hitting the IL. However, Yorke was able to progress well and did not miss much time. Through the first four games of the campaign, the 23-year-old posted a .333/.412/.533 slash line with three doubles and one RBI. Fantasy managers should expect Yorke to continue competing for a return to the big leagues. Last summer, Yorke received a brief taste of MLB action in Pittsburgh and held a .216/.286/.378 line with two home runs and two stolen bases across 11 games. The former 17th overall pick has posted a cumulative .333/.419/.500 line across 82 career games at Triple-A and should be in contention to return to the majors later this season.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have optioned infield prospect Nick Yorke to Triple-A Indianapolis. Yorke was competing for a spot on the Opening Day roster but will instead continue his development at the top level of the minor leagues. During camp, Yorke held a modest .206/.310/.265 slash line. Even with infielder Spencer Horwitz (wrist) expected to miss time early in the season, Yorke was unable to crack the Opening Day roster. Last season, Yorke received a brief taste of the majors and held a .216/.286/.378 slash line across 11 contests. He spent most of the campaign at the Triple-A level and performed quite well. Across 78 games at the level, split between time in Worcester and Indianapolis, the former 17th overall selection posted a strong .222/.420/.498 slash line with 25 doubles and 13 stolen bases. If he continues to perform at this level at Triple-A, he should push for an early return to the majors.

Pittsburgh Pirates first base prospect Nick Yorke could make the Opening Day roster. Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette noted that with Darick Hall and Matt Gorski being assigned to minor-league camp, Yorke could have a path to making the roster. He also noted that infield prospect Billy Cook could also be in the mix as well. In spring training, Yorke has held a .233/.342/.300 slash line with a 6:10 BB:K. Last summer, Yorke made his MLB debut and tallied eight hits (with two home runs) across his first 11 MLB contests. In the minor leagues, he spent time at the Double and Triple-A level. In 78 games at Triple-A, Yorke posted an impressive .333/.420/.498 slash line with 25 doubles and eight round-trippers. If he were to make the roster, he would likely serve as a depth option in the infield and only be worth rostering in NL-only formats.

Pittsburgh Pirates second base prospect Nick Yorke could shift to first base to replace the injured Spencer Horwitz (hand). During the start of camp, Yorke has primarily seen work at second base, which is where he has spent most of his brief stint in the majors. However, in the minor leagues, Yorke saw time at the hot corner and the outfield. First base coach Don Kelly told the former first-round selection to get a first base glove, which could open the door for a position change. Horwitz was slated to be the team's Opening Day first baseman but is now projected to miss six to eight weeks due to his surgery. During his brief 11-game stint in the majors, York posted a .216/.286/.378 line. Across 78 career games at Triple-A, Yorke posted a strong .333/.420/.498 line. If he has a productive spring, he could contend with Nick Gonzales or Jared Triolo for starts at second or first base.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are still looking for someone to step up as an everyday right fielder in 2025, but MLB.com's Alex Stumpf writes that Nick Yorke is a second baseman by trade and might not be an everyday outfielder from a defensive perspective. Both Yorke and Billy Cook were acquired at last year's trade deadline, with Yorke having the higher pedigree -- he's the team's first prospect on MLB Pipeline's top-100 list. Other players in Pittsburgh battling for an outfield spot in spring training will be Joshua Palacios, Jack Suwinski, Bryce Johnson and Nick Solak. The 22-year-old Yorke has the most offensive upside of the bunch but has played only four games in right field as a professional in the minors. If the Bucs aren't impressed with his glove this spring, he could open the year at Triple-A Indianapolis for more seasoning. With regular playing time, though, Yorke is a power-speed sleeper in deeper fantasy formats.