The Pirates are recalling infielder Nick Yorke and right-hander Cam Sanders from Triple-A Indianapolis, according to the MLB.com transaction log. Those will apparently be their September 1 roster moves. The Bucs are off today and may not officially announce the moves until tomorrow’s series opener against the Dodgers.
It’s the first promotion of the season for the 23-year-old Yorke. He first reached the majors as a September call-up late last season. He hit .216 with a pair of home runs in 11 games. Pittsburgh optioned him back to Triple-A at the end of Spring Training. Yorke has spent the entire season in Indianapolis, where he has been on the active roster aside from a week on the injured list with a sore shoulder in the middle of April.
Yorke is hitting .287/.348/.406 with seven home runs across 440 plate appearances. He has stolen 17 bases in 23 tries while turning in league average strikeout and walk rates. It’s a solid but hardly dominant showing for a player who also spent a good portion of the 2024 season at that level. To his credit, Yorke has picked things up as the season has progressed. He had a bad April around the injury but has hit fairly well since the beginning of May. Yorke is coming off his best month, as he slashed .337/.382/.446 in 24 games in August.
A first-round pick by the Red Sox in 2020, Yorke was acquired in a one-for-one swap for Quinn Priester at the ’24 deadline. Priester has had a breakout season this year (after being traded to the division rival Brewers). The trade doesn’t look particularly favorable for the Pirates at the moment, but Yorke still has time to emerge as a productive hitter. He’s primarily a second baseman but has a decent amount of corner outfield experience.
Nick Gonzales will get most of the second base playing time down the stretch. Yorke could take a few at-bats in left field from Tommy Pham, who has hit well in the second half but is an impending free agent on a non-contender. While Yorke has barely played any third base in his minor league career, Pittsburgh could also give him a few starts at the hot corner alongside fellow rookie Cam Devanney.
More arranging of the deck chairs
This is a typical routine of non contenders in September. So every non contender is re-arranging the chairs?
Yorke earned his promotion with his recent work.
Hopefully they give him some steady at bats.
Why would you assume Gonzales will get the majority of playing time at 2B? 0 WAR through 300 ABs. Why wouldn’t he take ABs from Pham? Stupid to bring him up and sit him.
He also has +1.1 fWAR through 73 games. I wouldn’t move him off 2B right now either.
Thank goodness they’ll still be eligible for postseason play…
They’ll win the next 25 straight!
The Pittsburgh Pirates have a 46-44 record since May 20, 2025
Add Bubba KG a trade or free agent and you got something here. Cherington finally got minor league player development where needed. Looks like 7 to 10 year stretch of above average team at least.
After they get some patchwork this offseason from the bargain basement, you’re right. 72 wins next season. But more pierogi races and Bring Your Dog to the Ballpark and Dress As Your Favorite Star Wars Character night.
Will you settle for average? It would still be an improvement.
About time. But what’s going to happen is that pham,suwinsky and Canario and triolo will get the majority of bats. Play the kids. Disgraceful that Kelly will still use these scrubs.
Unique Nick Yorke Unique Nick Yorke
Triolo will get continuous time to see if he is a starter probably at third base.
They need Pham as he is their only hitter.
Unfortunately Suwinski and Canerio have shown what they can do.
This should open up right field for Yorke and I would let him play some second base too because they know what Gonzalez can do.
Devanney should get at bats too.
I do not know why Kreidler is up.