The Pittsburgh Pirates recalled utility player Nick Yorke from Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday and started him at first base against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Yorke batted eighth as the Pirates faced left-hander Robbie Ray.
To make room, the Pirates placed outfielder Jake Mangum on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain retroactive to May 6. The move came two days after the club sent Yorke back to Triple-A on May 2 and brought fellow utility man Jared Triolo off the injured list the same day.
Yorke’s return gives Pittsburgh another movable piece at a time when the lineup needed one. He can play first base, second base, third base and right field, and the Pirates made him part of their Opening Day roster before optioning him out. In his earlier run with the club, Yorke had 14 starts in 19 games at third base, one start in five games in right field and one start in two games at first base.
The Pirates’ use of Yorke against Ray also fit the shape of their lineup. They had seven right-handed batters, plus a switch-hitter and just one left-handed batter, so the club leaned into a right-heavy group while adding a player who could cover multiple spots if the game forced a shuffle. That flexibility is why Yorke keeps surfacing when injuries and matchups collide, even after a brief trip back to Indianapolis.
For the Pirates, the immediate question is whether Yorke can hold the spot long enough to matter. For Mangum, the injured list removes one more option from a roster trying to stay intact while the calendar is still early.
