'Dude can rake': Grand Canyon's Yorke building off historic freshman season
First baseman homers in season opener at MLB Desert Invitational
Jes¨˛s Cano
@jesus_cano88PHOENIX -- No player on Grand Canyon University's baseball team has an aura quite like Zach Yorke.
The towering 6-foot-2, 295-pound sophomore first baseman stepped into the batter's box at Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark for the first time this season on a crisp Friday evening. Yorke was greeted with a strong reception from the record-breaking 5,281 fans in attendance as "Wanna Be a Baller" by Lil Troy echoed throughout the stadium's speakers.
The hefty left-handed hitter didn't have much time to soak in the moment of making his 2024 debut. After being challenged with two straight-breaking balls, Yorke unleashed a mighty swing at the third pitch, which was left hanging in the zone. As the ball sailed to right field, Georgetown outfielder Jake Hyder raised his hands in confusion, struggling to locate the ball in the twilight Arizona sky.
Hyder eventually found the ball, but nothing could be done. Yorke cleared the fence with a three-run home run, building off his Freshman All-American season.
"I'm still shaking," Yorke said after GCU's 5-2 Opening Day win in the Desert Invitational. "I don't really get nervous as a player, but I was definitely nervous for every at-bat tonight -- my legs were shaking. It was awesome, you couldn't have drawn up a better night for us.
"We have the best fans in the country. When they show up, it's awesome. They have our backs no matter what."
Yorke burst onto the scene in West Phoenix by inserting himself in the record books. He matched Tim Salmon's 1987 record for most RBIs (61) by a GCU freshman, set a Lopes record for hits by a freshman (75) and drew 46 walks, the third-most in the GCU Division I era. He carried his success to the Cape Cod League, one of the most prestigious summer leagues in the nation that has produced MLB stars such as Aaron Judge and Pete Alonso. Yorke hit .338 with two home runs, 19 RBIs and 12 walks in 20 games.
"Those were some of the best pitchers in the country," Yorke said. "In every game, there is no easy at-bats, there is no comfortable at-bats. It was probably the most important summer of my life so far. I'm excited to go back there this summer."
Yorke's unique size works to his advantage. The 20-year-old said his frame allows him to slow down the game, which has helped him sharpen his baseball reflexes and instincts.
"He's a big strong kid, but he has a short swing," head coach Gregg Wallis said. "He's got bat-to-ball skills, and he's got great strike-zone awareness. He rarely comes out of the strike zone, he swings at his pitch and it's a professional approach at the plate."
It isn't just GCU's skipper that endorses the hard-hitting first baseman. Jacob Wilson, one of the best players in GCU history and last year's No. 6 pick by the A's, predicted that Yorke would continue his hot streak.
"Dude rakes, man," Wilson, MLB Pipeline's No. 68 overall prospect, said during the broadcast on ESPN+. "I was having a conversation with my dad [former Major Leaguer Jack Wilson] and said, 'Yorke is going to have a good year.' He showed last year really well as a freshman. Obviously, he started his sophomore campaign with a three-run homer. That's Yorke for you -- dude can rake."
His success is not solely a product of his efforts; it is rooted in his family's rich athletic lineage. His father, David, was a swimmer at Air Force and his mom, Robyn, is considered to be one best softball players in Fresno State history. Most recently, his brother Nick was selected 17th overall in the 2020 Draft by the Red Sox and ended last season as the team's No. 6 prospect.
The elder Yorke, who played in the Arizona Fall League in 2022, has given plenty of tips to his little brother on hitting at the next level.
"He's a huge resource in my life," Yorke said. "He's easily my role model and the best player I've ever seen. I call him weekly asking him how he is doing and what he is thinking in the box. He's always there for me no matter what."