Pirates call up Nick Yorke from Triple-A, adding red-hot bat, versatile defender to roster

The Pittsburgh Pirates called up second baseman Nick Yorke from Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday.

Yorke, ranked No. 6 on the club’s prospects list per MLB Pipeline, joined the club in St. Louis, with the Pirates beginning a four-game series at Busch Stadium vs. the Cardinals.

The 22-year-old is in line to make his big-league debut and will wear No. 38 with the Pirates.

In a corresponding transaction, infielder Alika Williams was optioned to Triple-A.

Acquired from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for pitcher Quinn Priester in late July, Yorke was assigned to the Indians and, over 40 games, has batted .355 with 26 RBIs and two homers.

Yorke has produced an OPS of .938 in Indianapolis since arriving, walking 18 times with 33 strikeouts in 152 at-bats.

Since he entered the Pirates organization, he ranks atop the International League with 54 hits and 17 doubles. His batting average ranks third while Yorke’s 19 extra-base hits is fourth.

Primarily a second baseman, Yorke has also been deployed at shortstop and all three outfield positions.

Drafted by the Red Sox 17th overall in the 2020 MLB Draft, Yorke has spent the last three seasons in Boston’s system.

Through 410 career minor-league games, he has hit .284.

In 2021, he was Boston’s Minor League Player of the Year.

Back in June, Yorke earned promotion to the Worcester Red Sox and over the next seven weeks, proceeded to bat .310 with six homers and 19 RBIs in his Triple-A debut.