McAdam: Making his pro debut at 18, first-round pick Nick Yorke wasn't the least bit intimidated

When Alex Cora told Nick Yorke to be prepared to play second base against the Atlanta Braves on Monday, he expected the news might catch the 18-year-old a bit off-guard.

Not even a year ago, Yorke was a high school senior. Monday, he made his pro debut, having not had the opportunity to officially do so last summer after the infielder was drafted in the first round by the Red Sox.

Now, here he was, in a major league spring training game.

"He was like, 'Oh, OK, cool,' '' relayed Cora. "I asked him, 'Are you nervous?' He was like, 'Nope.' I said, 'OK, good for you.' I was probably more nervous for him. That's a good sign.''

If so, Cora's anxiety wasn't necessary. Facing lefty reliever A.J. Minter, Yorke endured a tough at-bat before producing a nice inside-out swing and dropping a single into right field.

"That was tremendous, tremendous,'' said Cora. "He's here to learn. He' s here to be around big leaguers and learn how to act in the clubhouse, learn how to be a professional. That was the highlight of the day, watching that kid play.''

"Just a couple of years ago, I was watching spring training games, let alone playing in one,'' marveled Yorke. "It was a blast. It was good to be out on the field again.''

Having been told that he'd be getting into the game in the later innings, Yorke went about his business.



"Get prepared, go on like it's another day, getting ready for another game,'' said Yorke. "I mean, obviously, it's a little faster paced game now that we're here in spring training. But it's fun. The coaches have done a really good job getting us ready with live at-bats. It felt good and I felt really prepared going into it. We haven't been able to play a lot in the past year, so just to get on the field was exciting. You get to go do what you love.''

Yorke, it should seem obvious by now, does not lack for self-regard. When the Red Sox selected him last summer with their first-round pick, many were surprised, since most projections had him going later in the draft. The Sox, however, were won over by his hit tool and raw power. Projections from others aside, Yorke didn't doubt himself then, or, on Monday, stepping in against major leaguers.

"I have a lot of confidence in myself,'' he said. "I believe I can hit off any pitcher there is.''

Without a minor league season last year due to the pandemic, Yorke didn't play affiliated minor league baseball. But in September, the Red Sox made the unusual choice of adding him to their alternate site program at Pawtucket's McCoy Stadium, mixing in the recent high school grad with prospects from the upper levels of their development system, including some who had already played in the big leagues.

Yorke didn't feel out of place, and made sure to use the experience to help him grow. That time also helped ease the transition for spring training.

"Coming in,'' he said, "I knew what to expect. It made this a little easier. I knew a lot of the players from that Pawtucket experience.''

Prior to Monday, Yorke has attempted to absorb everything around him, working with infielders who are already established major leaguers.

"I'm trying to be a sponge,'' he confessed. "They've been in the game a lot longer than I have, so I'm just trying to take what I can from them and try to piece this thing together.''

As much as he attempts to downplay the huge jump he's taking in terms of competition, Yorke is fully cognizant of what a whirlwind the last year has been.

"It's pretty nuts,'' he agreed. "It's definitely very exciting. But any opportunity they give me to touch a baseball field, I'm going to try to run away with it.''

Over the winter, he began feeling the part of a pro ballplayer, increasing his workouts and managing his nutrition more than ever before. He lost 25 pounds and reported to camp in far better shape.

"You definitely put a lot more time into yourself,'' said Yorke.

In another month, he'll get his first assignment -- likely to one of the Single A affiliates in either Salem or Greenville -- and the long process to reaching the big leagues for good will begin in earnest.

But in his memory bank, he'll always have his first spring training game and his first hit as a pro.

"I didn't have a lot of nerves,'' he said. "It's baseball. At the end of the day, it's just a game, so I was just trying to go out and have some fun.''