Eric Young, Jr.
| Eric Young, Jr. | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Young with the New York Mets in 2013 | |||
| Milwaukee Brewers | |||
| Outfielder / Second baseman | |||
|
Born: May 25, 1985 Piscataway, New Jersey | |||
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| MLB debut | |||
| August 25, 2009, for the Colorado Rockies | |||
| MLB statistics (through 2015) | |||
| Batting average | .247 | ||
| Home runs | 8 | ||
| Runs batted in | 88 | ||
| Stolen bases | 144 | ||
| Teams | |||
| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Eric Orlando Young, Jr. (born May 25, 1985) is an American professional baseball second baseman and outfielder in the Milwaukee Brewers organization. He is the son of former professional baseball player Eric Young. He was the National League stolen base champion in 2013. Young has previously played in MLB for the Colorado Rockies, Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets.
Baseball career
Young was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and graduated from Piscataway High School in Piscataway, New Jersey. 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.[1] He began his career playing in 2004 for the Casper Rockies (now the Grand Junction Rockies), that was an advanced rookie team and that was part of the Pioneer League that is located in Casper, Wyoming.
In 2006 Young led all minor leaguers in stolen bases, with 87.[2] He then won the Arizona Fall League batting title, finishing with a .430 average.[3]
Colorado Rockies
Young appeared in the 2009 Futures Game, hitting a three-run home run. The world team won 7 to 5.[4]
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, he hit his first career home run in the bottom of the 6th inning against the Cincinnati Reds.
During spring training for the 2010 season he was optioned to the team's Triple-A affiliate, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox.[5] On April 25, 2010, Young was recalled to the Rockies from the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. On May 15, 2010 he suffered a stress fracture and was placed on the DL to return 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 from the Sky Sox.
New York Mets
He was designated for assignment on June 12, 2013 and traded to the New York Mets on June 18, 2013 in exchange for Collin McHugh.[6]
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.[7][8] On June 5, 2015, the Braves designated Young for assignment.[9]
Second stint with the Mets
On August 22, 2015, Young was traded back to the Mets in exchange for cash considerations.[10] Young was removed from the 40-man roster on November 5, 2015 making him a free agent.[11] Young went with a batting average of .153 with no homeruns, 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.[12] Young is one of nine players competing to be the Brewers center fielder for the 2016 season.[13]
See also
- List of second-generation Major League Baseball players
- List of Major League Baseball annual stolen base leaders
References
- ↑ 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
- ↑ Winston, Lisa (July 10, 2009). "Young Jr. ready for Futures Game". MLB.com. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
- ↑ Torenli, John (November 20, 2008). "Young captures AFL batting title". MLB.com. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑
- ↑ DiComo, Anthony (June 18, 2013). "Mets acquire Young from Rockies for McHugh". MLB.com. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
- ↑ "Eric Young Jr, Braves reach minor league deal". ESPN.com. Associated Press. February 13, 2015. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
- ↑ Bowman, Mark (February 13, 2015). "Braves ink speedy Young to Minor League deal". Retrieved February 15, 2015.
- ↑ "Braves Replace Eric Young Jr.". AP (NY Times). 6 June 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
- ↑ Bowman, Mark (August 22, 2015). "Braves trade Young to Mets for cash". MLB.com. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
- ↑ http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/113173/eric-young-jr-becomes-free-agent
- ↑ "Brewers sign Eric Young Jr. to minor-league deal, invite to camp". Fox Sports. January 5, 2016. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
- ↑ http://m.brewers.mlb.com/news/article/165355808/nine-brewers-competing-for-center-field-job
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
- Eric Young, Jr on Twitter
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