Eric Young Jr.

Eric Young Jr.

Young with the New York Mets in 2013
Los Angeles Angels
Left fielder / Second baseman
Born: (1985-05-25) May 25, 1985
Piscataway, New Jersey
Bats: Switch Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 25, 2009, for the Colorado Rockies
MLB statistics
(through June 27, 2017)
Batting average .247
Home runs 11
Runs batted in 99
Stolen bases 153
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Eric Orlando Young Jr. (born May 25, 1985) is an American professional baseball second baseman and outfielder in the Los Angeles Angels organization. He previously played for the Colorado Rockies, Atlanta Braves, New York Mets and New York Yankees. He was the National League stolen base champion in 2013. He is the son of former professional baseball player Eric Young.

Baseball career

Young was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey and graduated from Piscataway High School in Piscataway, New Jersey.[1] He had a football scholarship to attend Villanova University. The Colorado Rockies selected Young in the 30th round of the 2003 Major League Baseball draft, and he signed rather than attend college.[2]

Young began his career playing in 2004 for the Casper Rockies (now the Grand Junction Rockies), that was an advanced rookie team located in Casper, Wyoming and was part of the Pioneer League. In 2006, Young led all minor leaguers in stolen bases with 87.[3] He then won the Arizona Fall League batting title, finishing with a .430 average.[4] Young appeared in the 2009 Futures Game, hitting a three-run home run. The world team won 7 to 5.[5]

Colorado Rockies

Young made his major league debut on August 25, 2009, for the Colorado Rockies playing center field. He had his first career hit in this game during the 5th inning and ended the game 1-4. Eric Young Sr. was in attendance for his son's debut. On September 8, 2009, Young Jr. hit his first career home run in the bottom of the 6th inning against the Cincinnati Reds.

During spring training for the 2010 season, Young was optioned to the team's Triple-A affiliate, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox.[6] On April 25, 2010, Young was recalled to the Rockies from Colorado Springs. On May 15, 2010, he suffered a stress fracture and was placed on the DL. He would return from the DL to Coors Field on August 14, 2010. On May 27, 2011, he was called back up to the Rockies with an above .300 batting average with the Sky Sox.

New York Mets

Young was designated for assignment on June 12, 2013, and traded to the New York Mets on June 18, 2013, in exchange for Collin McHugh.[7] On July 24, 2013, Young was involved in a season-ending accident with Tim Hudson. Hudson was covering the first base bag, and Young attempted to beat the groundout. When Young stepped late on the bag, his cleat dug hard into Hudson's ankle full stride, unnaturally rolling it. This incident broke Hudson's ankle and ultimately ended Hudson's last season with the Braves. Young expressed extreme concern for Hudson after the play ended.[8]

On August 2, 2013, Young hit the first walk-off hit of his career, a two-run home run, in the 11th inning against the Kansas City Royals. On September 29, 2013, in the final game of the season, Young stole his 45th and 46th bases against the Milwaukee Brewers, becoming the National League stolen base leader. He is the Mets' first stolen bases champion since José Reyes in 2007. On December 2, 2014, Young was non-tendered by the Mets.

Atlanta Braves

Young signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves on February 13, 2015. The deal included an invitation to spring training.[9][10] On June 5, 2015, the Braves designated Young for assignment.[11]

Second stint with the Mets

On August 22, 2015, Young was traded back to the Mets in exchange for cash considerations.[12] He was removed from the 40-man roster on November 5, 2015, making him a free agent.[13] Young had a batting average of .153 with no home runs, five RBIs and .217 on-base percentage with both the Braves and the Mets in 2015.

Milwaukee Brewers

On January 5, 2016, Young signed a minor league contract with the Brewers, with an invitation to spring training.[14] He was one of nine players competing to be the Brewers center fielder for the 2016 season.[15] Center field was one of the last positions the Brewers decided,[16][17] but Young did not make the Opening Day roster.[18]

New York Yankees

On August 31, 2016, the Brewers traded Young to the New York Yankees for cash considerations. The Yankees assigned him to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.[19]

Los Angeles Angels

On January 24th, 2017, the Angels signed Young Jr. to a minor league deal. On May 31, 2017, Young hit a game-winning solo home run in the eighth inning to give the Angels a 2-1 lead against the Atlanta Braves. This was his first home run since 2014. The Angels went on to win by that score.[20] He was outrighted on July 13, 2017.

Personal life

Young is married to Victoria.[21][22]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Miller, Randy. "Angels' Eric Young Jr., shares sad story of losing his 'angel'", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, June 9, 2017. Accessed July 5, 2017. "Shortly after joining the club in an Aug. 31, trade, the Yankees were in Baltimore for a Labor Day weekend series when the New Brunswick native and Piscataway High alum learned he was going to be a first-time father."
  2. ↑ http://www.nj.com/mets/index.ssf/2013/06/eric_young_jr_returns_to_where_his_baseball_career_began_in_his_mets_home_debut.html
  3. ↑ Winston, Lisa (July 10, 2009). "Young Jr. ready for Futures Game". MLB.com. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  4. ↑ Torenli, John (November 20, 2008). "Young captures AFL batting title". MLB.com. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  5. ↑ Nightengale, Bob (July 13, 2009). "World a winner on soggy night in Futures game". USA Today. Archived from the original on February 15, 2015. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  6. ↑
  7. ↑ DiComo, Anthony (June 18, 2013). "Mets acquire Young from Rockies for McHugh". MLB.com. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  8. ↑ Braves' Hudson breaks ankle in win against Mets
  9. ↑ "Eric Young Jr, Braves reach minor league deal". ESPN.com. Associated Press. February 13, 2015. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  10. ↑ Bowman, Mark (February 13, 2015). "Braves ink speedy Young to Minor League deal". Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Braves Replace Eric Young Jr.". AP. NY Times. 6 June 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  12. ↑ Bowman, Mark (August 22, 2015). "Braves trade Young to Mets for cash". MLB.com. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
  13. ↑ http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/113173/eric-young-jr-becomes-free-agent
  14. ↑ "Brewers sign Eric Young Jr. to minor-league deal, invite to camp". Fox Sports. January 5, 2016. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
  15. ↑ McCalvy, Adam (February 24, 2016). "Nine Brewers to compete for center-field job". MLB.com. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  16. ↑ McCalvy, Adam (March 24, 2016). "Brewers looking at 7 spots to finalize roster". MLB.com. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  17. ↑ McCalvy, Adam (April 3, 2016). "Counsell talks CF, Opening Day in Q&A". MLB.com. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  18. ↑ McCalvy, Adam (April 3, 2016). "7 Brewers make Opening Day roster for first time". MLB.com. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  19. ↑
  20. ↑ http://www.latimes.com/sports/angels/la-sp-angels-braves-20170531-story.html
  21. ↑ McCalvy, Adam (March 22, 2016). "Young Jr. has dad to keep him grounded". MLB.com. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  22. ↑ Renck, Troy E. (February 27, 2013). "Eric Young gives Rockies options on offense and defense". Denver Post. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
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