Mitty infielder Yorke signs deal with Red Sox
Nick Yorke made what was expected since draft night official Tuesday.
The former Archbishop Mitty High School standout traveled to Boston to sign with the Red Sox, who surprisingly selected the infielder with the 17th pick in the first round last month. Yorke, 18, received a $2.7 million signing bonus, according to MLB.com, almost $1 million less than the assigned value for that slot.
“Very excited to be a part of the Red Sox Organization,” Yorke tweeted. “Can’t wait to get to work!”
In most pre-draft projections, Yorke, who had committed to the University of Arizona before the draft, was projected to be taken about 80 slots lower.
Yorke was named the West Catholic Athletic League’s MVP as a sophomore in 2018 after batting .494 in 28 games. He hit .505 with 40 RBIs, nine doubles, three triples and seven home runs as a junior. In five games his senior year, cut short because of the coronavirus pandemic, Yorke batted .533 with two home runs.
Joe Yorke, Nick’s older brother who graduated from Mitty in 2019, committed to Cal Poly late last week, just hours after Boise State dropped its baseball program because of lost revenue from the coronavirus pandemic. Joe was a freshman first baseman for Boise this past spring.
KERSHAW TO START OPENER AGAINST GIANTS >>
Clayton Kershaw will make his franchise-record ninth Opening Day start for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Manager Dave Roberts confirmed his choice Tuesday. The Dodgers open the 60-game season on July 23 at home against the rival San Francisco Giants.
The 32-year-old left-hander tossed four innings in the Dodgers’ second intrasquad game Monday night.
Kershaw’s streak of Opening Day starts ended last year when he began the season on the injured list with left shoulder inflammation.
RED SOX STARTER TESTS POSITIVE >> Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke said that starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez and prospect Bobby Dalbec have both tested positive for COVID-19.
Rodriguez has yet to report to camp after previously informing the team that he had been around relatives who had been ill. Dalbec, a 25-year-old third baseman, is also at home and currently is asymptomatic.
Roenicke said that he intended to have Rodriguez start on Opening Day.