Michael Young (baseball player)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Michael Young

Position	Shortstop
Team	Texas Rangers
Years of Experience	5 years
Age	30
Height	6 ft 1 in
Weight	190 lb.
Bats	Right
Throws	Right
College	University of California, Santa Barbara
Place of Birth	Covina, California
Selection	5th round amateur draft, 1997
Drafted by	Toronto Blue Jays
Major League Debut	9-29-2000

Michael Brian Young (born October 19, 1976 in Covina, California) is a shortstop in Major League Baseball who currently plays for the Texas Rangers.

Originally drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the fifth round in 1997, Young was traded to the Texas Rangers in 2000 along with Darwin Cubillán for Esteban Loaiza. In 2001, Young became a regular with the Rangers at second base between shortstop Alex Rodriguez and first baseman Rafael Palmeiro. Young and Rodríguez became fast friends in the infield. Following Rodriguez's trade to the Yankees, Michael Young was then moved to the shortstop position.

Young hit .306 with 14 home runs and 72 RBI during the 2003 season. However, during the off-season, the Rangers made the well-publicized trade of Rodríguez to the New York Yankees for second baseman Alfonso Soriano. Now not only had Young's friend been taken away from the Rangers, Young was now in danger of losing his position on the field with another talented second baseman on the team. Young, however, told manager Buck Showalter that he would defer his second base position to Soriano and Young made his move to shortstop.

In 2004, with many critics uncertain of the Rangers' future following the Rodríguez trade, the Rangers blossomed with their young talent and Young was no exception. Batting primarily from the leadoff position, by June 11, Young had a .332 batting average with nine home runs and 37 RBI. In the field, Young became an important part of the double play tandem of himself, Soriano, and first baseman Mark Teixeira, assisting on 44 double plays by June 11.

Young had a stellar 2005 campaign with Texas, finishing the year with a .331 average. This was good enough to make him the American League batting champion, becoming only the second Ranger to accomplish the feat (the first being Julio Franco in 1991). Young also hit 221 hits in 2005 which led the American League.

Young was elected as a member of 2006 World Baseball Classic roster.

In the 2006 MLB All-Star Game held at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Young was rewarded with the Ted Williams All-Star Game MVP award after hitting a clutch triple in the top of the ninth inning with two outs, two strikes, and runners on second and third base against National League closer Trevor Hoffman. The triple put the American League ahead for good, 3-2. In addition to his clinching hit, Young also made a backpedaling catch in shallow right field to record the final out of the game.

At the close of the 2006 season Young started his 254 consecutive game, which is the fourth longest active streak in the Major Leagues. In 2006 Young collected 200 hits for the fourth consecutive season, joining Wade Boggs, Kirby Puckett and Ichiro Suzuki as the only players since 1940 to accomplish the feat. The Texas Rangers, however, missed the playoffs for a sixth consecutive season, leading Young to question his future with the team after his current contract.

[edit] Career Statistics

Michael Young (Updated as of October 3, 2006)

	Games	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BA
Career	905	3676	561	1104	202	38	94	476	46	.300

[edit] External links

• ESPN - profile and daily updates
• ESPN - Rangers follow Young's lead
• Baseball Reference - statistics and analysis

Preceded by: Ichiro Suzuki	American League Batting Champion 2005	Succeeded by: Joe Mauer
Preceded by: Miguel Tejada	Major League Baseball All-Star Game Most Valuable Player 2006	Succeeded by: incumbent