Grand Canyon’s Zach Yorke homers at MLB Desert Invitational
nn”,”providerName”:”Twitter”,”providerUrl”:”https://twitter.com”,”thumbnail_url”:null,”kind”:”oembed”,”width”:550,”contentType”:”wealthy”},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content material”:””I am nonetheless shaking,” Yorke stated after GCU’s 5-2 Opening Day win within the Desert Invitational. “I do not actually get nervous as a participant, however I used to be positively nervous for each at-bat tonight — my legs had been shaking. It was superior, you could not have drawn up a greater evening for us.nn”We’ve the most effective followers within the nation. After they present up, it is superior. They’ve our backs it doesn’t matter what.”nnYorke burst onto the scene in West Phoenix by inserting himself within the document books. He matched Tim Salmon’s 1987 document for many RBIs (61) by a GCU freshman, set a Lopes document for hits by a freshman (75) and drew 46 walks, the third-most within the GCU Division I period. He carried his success to the Cape Cod League, some of the prestigious summer time leagues within the nation that has produced MLB stars akin to Aaron Decide and Pete Alonso. Yorke hit .338 with two residence runs, 19 RBIs and 12 walks in 20 video games.”,”kind”:”textual content”},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content material”:”* Subscribe to the MLB Pipeline Publication”,”kind”:”textual content”},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content material”:””These had been a number of the finest pitchers within the nation,” Yorke stated. “In each sport, there isn’t a simple at-bats, there isn’t a snug at-bats. It was in all probability an important summer time of my life thus far. I am excited to return there this summer time.”nnYorke’s distinctive measurement works to his benefit. The 20-year-old stated his body permits him to decelerate the sport, which has helped him sharpen his baseball reflexes and instincts.nn”He is a giant robust child, however he has a brief swing,” head coach Gregg Wallis stated. “He is received bat-to-ball abilities, and he is received nice strike-zone consciousness. He not often comes out of the strike zone, he swings at his pitch and it is a skilled strategy on the plate.””,”kind”:”textual content”},{“__typename”:”OEmbed”,”html”:”
1-0! 💥#LopesUp pic.twitter.com/QedLtwWlqY
— Grand Canyon Baseball (@GCU_Baseball) February 17, 2024
nnn”,”providerName”:”Twitter”,”providerUrl”:”https://twitter.com”,”thumbnail_url”:null,”kind”:”oembed”,”width”:550,”contentType”:”wealthy”},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content material”:”It is not simply GCU’s skipper that endorses the hard-hitting first baseman. Jacob Wilson, probably the greatest gamers in GCU historical past and final yr’s No. 6 choose by the A’s, predicted that Yorke would proceed his scorching streak.nn”Dude rakes, man,” Wilson, MLB Pipeline’s No. 68 total prospect, stated through the broadcast on ESPN+. “I used to be having a dialog with my dad [former Major Leaguer Jack Wilson] and stated, ‘Yorke goes to have a superb yr.’ He confirmed final yr very well as a freshman. Clearly, he began his sophomore marketing campaign with a three-run homer. That is Yorke for you — dude can rake.”nnHis success will not be solely a product of his efforts; it’s rooted in his household’s wealthy athletic lineage. His father, David, was a swimmer at Air Drive and his mother, Robyn, is taken into account to be one finest softball gamers in Fresno State historical past. Most lately, his brother Nick was chosen seventeenth total within the 2020 Draft by the Pink Sox and ended final season because the staff’s No. 6 prospect.nnThe elder Yorke, who performed within the Arizona Fall League in 2022, has given loads of tricks to his little brother on hitting on the subsequent stage.nn”He is an enormous useful resource in my life,” Yorke stated. “He is simply my function mannequin and the most effective participant I’ve ever seen. I name him weekly asking him how he’s doing and what he’s pondering within the field. He is all the time there for me it doesn’t matter what.””,”kind”:”textual content”}],”relativeSiteUrl”:”/information/grand-canyon-s-zach-yorke-homers-at-mlb-desert-invitational”,”contentType”:”information”,”subHeadline”:”First baseman homers in season opener at MLB Desert Invitational”,”abstract”:”PHOENIX — No participant on Grand Canyon College’s baseball staff has an aura fairly like Zach Yorke.nThe towering 6-foot-2, 295-pound sophomore first baseman stepped into the batter’s field at Brazell Area at GCU Ballpark for the primary time this season on a crisp Friday night. Yorke was greeted with”,”tagline({“formatString”:”none”})”:null,”tags”:[{“__typename”:”InternalTag”,”slug”:”storytype-article”,”title”:”Article”,”type”:”article”},{“__typename”:”ContributorTag”,”slug”:”jesus-cano”,”title”:”Jesús Cano”,”type”:”contributor”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”mlb-top-prospects”,”title”:”MLB Top Prospects”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”mlb4″,”title”:”MLB Desert Invitational”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”mlb-draft”,”title”:”MLB Draft”,”type”:”taxonomy”}],”kind”:”story”,”thumbnail”:”https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/picture/add/{formatInstructions}/mlb/kbdcgurzceyyuz6ikvg5″,”title”:”Grand Canyon’s Zach Yorke homers at MLB Desert Invitational”}}}}
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First baseman homers in season opener at MLB Desert Invitational
6:07 AM UTC
PHOENIX — No participant on Grand Canyon College’s baseball staff has an aura fairly like Zach Yorke.
The towering 6-foot-2, 295-pound sophomore first baseman stepped into the batter’s field at Brazell Area at GCU Ballpark for the primary time this season on a crisp Friday night. Yorke was greeted with a robust reception from the record-breaking 5,281 followers in attendance as “Wanna Be a Baller” by Lil Troy echoed all through the stadium’s audio system.
The hefty left-handed hitter did not have a lot time to soak within the second of creating his 2024 debut. After being challenged with two straight-breaking balls, Yorke unleashed a mighty swing on the third pitch, which was left hanging within the zone. Because the ball sailed to proper discipline, Georgetown outfielder Jake Hyder raised his arms in confusion, struggling to find the ball within the twilight Arizona sky.
Hyder ultimately discovered the ball, however nothing could possibly be accomplished. Yorke cleared the fence with a three-run residence run, constructing off his Freshman All-American season.
“I am nonetheless shaking,” Yorke stated after GCU’s 5-2 Opening Day win within the Desert Invitational. “I do not actually get nervous as a participant, however I used to be positively nervous for each at-bat tonight — my legs had been shaking. It was superior, you could not have drawn up a greater evening for us.
“We’ve the most effective followers within the nation. After they present up, it is superior. They’ve our backs it doesn’t matter what.”
Yorke burst onto the scene in West Phoenix by inserting himself within the document books. He matched Tim Salmon’s 1987 document for many RBIs (61) by a GCU freshman, set a Lopes document for hits by a freshman (75) and drew 46 walks, the third-most within the GCU Division I period. He carried his success to the Cape Cod League, some of the prestigious summer time leagues within the nation that has produced MLB stars akin to Aaron Decide and Pete Alonso. Yorke hit .338 with two residence runs, 19 RBIs and 12 walks in 20 video games.
“These had been a number of the finest pitchers within the nation,” Yorke stated. “In each sport, there isn’t a simple at-bats, there isn’t a snug at-bats. It was in all probability an important summer time of my life thus far. I am excited to return there this summer time.”
Yorke’s distinctive measurement works to his benefit. The 20-year-old stated his body permits him to decelerate the sport, which has helped him sharpen his baseball reflexes and instincts.
“He is a giant robust child, however he has a brief swing,” head coach Gregg Wallis stated. “He is received bat-to-ball abilities, and he is received nice strike-zone consciousness. He not often comes out of the strike zone, he swings at his pitch and it is a skilled strategy on the plate.”
It is not simply GCU’s skipper that endorses the hard-hitting first baseman. Jacob Wilson, probably the greatest gamers in GCU historical past and final yr’s No. 6 choose by the A’s, predicted that Yorke would proceed his scorching streak.
“Dude rakes, man,” Wilson, MLB Pipeline’s No. 68 total prospect, stated through the broadcast on ESPN+. “I used to be having a dialog with my dad [former Major Leaguer Jack Wilson] and stated, ‘Yorke goes to have a superb yr.’ He confirmed final yr very well as a freshman. Clearly, he began his sophomore marketing campaign with a three-run homer. That is Yorke for you — dude can rake.”
His success will not be solely a product of his efforts; it’s rooted in his household’s wealthy athletic lineage. His father, David, was a swimmer at Air Drive and his mother, Robyn, is taken into account to be one finest softball gamers in Fresno State historical past. Most lately, his brother Nick was chosen seventeenth total within the 2020 Draft by the Pink Sox and ended final season because the staff’s No. 6 prospect.
The elder Yorke, who performed within the Arizona Fall League in 2022, has given loads of tricks to his little brother on hitting on the subsequent stage.
“He is an enormous useful resource in my life,” Yorke stated. “He is simply my function mannequin and the most effective participant I’ve ever seen. I name him weekly asking him how he’s doing and what he’s pondering within the field. He is all the time there for me it doesn’t matter what.”