SS Nick Yorke, Archbishop Mitty HS [CA]
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DoB: 4/2/2002. B/T: R/R.
Commitment: Arizona.
Nick Yorke was trending up when the season shut down, and while high school hitters are among the toughest types of players to evaluate without seeing them in person, he's one of my favorite hitters in the draft. San Jose's Archbishop Mitty is one of the top programs in the San Francisco Bay Area, having produced current big leaguers Mitch Haniger (via Cal Poly) and Trevor Hildenberger (via Cal Berkeley), and though Yorke is a better prospect than either were coming out of high school. He's part of an exceptional California prep class and is likely the top hitter in the Bay Area.
Yorke's top tool is definitely the hit tool. I love his right handed swing, in which he uses his very quick hands to get the bat through the zone in a hurry and create some leverage while doing so. There's a slight bat wrap before the swing which can make him just a little bit long to the ball, but he has had no problem making contact against advanced pitching and pro coaching should be able to iron that out pretty easily. While he's not a huge power threat at a listed six feet tall, he was reportedly hitting the ball with more authority this spring and his swing is definitely conducive to that if he wants it to be. Either way, the hit tool grades out as above average and could end up plus down the road. Defensively, it's not quite known where Yorke will end up, as he's a steady defender at shortstop who could be able to stick there if he can get a bit more physical. He's an average runner who is more of an instincts-based defender, and it's hard to get a read on his arm because he's been recovering from shoulder problems. So in reality, he could end up pretty much anywhere in the infield aside from first base.
If Yorke can stick at shortstop, that's an excellent overall profile. His bat projects for 10-15 home runs per season with good on-base percentages, perhaps closer to 20 home runs if we want to be optimistic and they keep juicing the baseballs, and that's true impact offense from a shortstop. If he has to move to second or third base, it could still profile as a regular. I'm definitely on the optimistic side when it comes to his bat, and I see it as potentially even a second round profile if he can stick at shortstop. As with most high schoolers, signability clouds his likely draft range, but most teams probably see him as a third to fourth round talent. If he chooses to head to Arizona, three years of production in the Pac 12 could make him a high pick in 2023.
Hitting and fielding over the summer
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