Alex Young: A Baseball Journey

Alex Young was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the second round of the 2009 MLB Draft After surviving Tommy John surgery he made his Major League debut with the Diamondbacks in 2015. He was traded to the Texas Rangers in 2016, and is currently a free agent

The Road to the Show

Alex Young was born in San Diego California, and grew up playing baseball He was always one of the best players on his team, and he dreamed of one day playing in the Major Leagues After High School he was drafted by the Texas Rangers and he began his professional career.

Young worked his way through the Rangers’ farm system and in 2016 he made his Major League debut He pitched well in limited action, and he earned a spot on the Rangers’ 2017 Opening Day roster.

Young has continued to pitch well for the Rangers, and he is currently one of their most reliable Relief pitchers He has helped the team to two consecutive American League West titles, and he will be a key member of their bullpen as they try to win a World Series championship.

The Big Leagues

Few players have taken the scenic route to the Major Leagues like Alex Young. The left-handed pitcher spent time in the independent Frontier League and the Mexican League before finally getting his big break with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2019.

Young made his Major League debut on May 4, 2019, and proceeded to put up some impressive numbers in his rookie season. In 30 games (seven starts), he posted a record of 5-3 with a 3.56 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 49 strikeouts in 63.2 innings pitched His best outing came on August 7 against the San Diego Padres when he pitched seven scoreless innings and allowed just three hits while striking out six.

The 2020 season was a bit of a bump in the road for Young, as he struggled to a 5.48 ERA in 13 games (eight starts). He did, however, have one bright spot: on September 1 against the Colorado Rockies he pitched eight innings of shutout baseball and struck out eight batters.

Looking ahead to 2021, Young will be looking to build on his strong rookie campaign and help the Diamondbacks contend for a playoff spot.

The Minor Leagues

In baseball, the minor leagues are where most players start their careers. The minor leagues consist of several levels of play, with the lowest level being Rookie ball and the highest being Triple-A. Players who are placed on a team’s 40-man roster are said to be on the “40-man roster.”

The minor leagues are where most players hone their skills and develop into Major League caliber players. The average minor league player makes about $1,100 per month during the season. Major League players, on the other hand, make an average of $4.5 million per year.

Players who perform well in the minor leagues may be called up to the major leagues while those who struggle may be sent down to a lower level or released outright.

The Off-Season

Though baseball is considered a summer sport, players train year-round to stay in shape and hone their skills. For many, the off-season is a time to relax and recover from the rigors of the previous season. For others, it’s an opportunity to reflect on the year that was and set goals for the next one.

For Alex Young, the off-season is a chance to do both. After a successful rookie season with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Young is spending his winter break training at home in Dallas, Texas. He’s also taking some time to think about what he wants to accomplish in his second year in the big leagues

“I want to build on what I did last year,” Young says. “I want to be more consistent and help my team win more games.”

Young isn’t the only one setting goals for the upcoming season Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo has high hopes for his young pitcher saying “I believe in Alex Young. I think he’s going to be a key part of our rotation for years to come.”

With Lovullo’s support and his own hard work there’s no doubt that Alex Young will be ready to take his game to the next level in 2020.

Spring Training

Spring training is a time for players to shake off the rust from the offseason and get ready for the rigors of a long, grueling season. For youngsters like Alex Young, it’s an opportunity to prove that they belong in the big leagues

Young was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2015 and spent his first two professional seasons in their Minor League system. He impressed enough to earn a spot on the 40-man roster last November and was invite to spring training this year.

The 24-year-old left-hander has been one of the most impressive pitchers in camp so far, posting a 1.17 ERA in 15 innings pitched. He’s struck out 16 batters while walking just four, and he’s shown good command of his fastball and secondary pitches.

Young is still a longshot to make the Diamondbacks’ opening day roster, but he’s certainly put himself in contention for a spot on the team. With a strong showing in Spring Training he could force his way into the big leagues sooner rather than later.

The All-Star Game

The Major League Baseball All-Star game also known as the “Midsummer Classic”, is an annual professional baseball game sanctioned by Major League Baseball (MLB) contested between the All-Stars from the American League (AL) and National League (NL), currently selected by fans for starting fielders, by managers for pitchers, and by managers and players for reserves.

The Post-Season

By the end of the season, Alex Young had solidified his spot in the Cubs’ post-season rotation. He would make two starts in the NLDS against the Cardinals, pitched well in Game 2 and got the win in Game 5. In the NLCS, he started Game 2 against the Dodgers and got a no-decision after pitching five innings of one-run baseball

Life After Baseball

It’s been a little over a month since I played my last game of professional baseball I had just finished up a solid season in Double-A with the San Antonio Missions, and was ready to take the next step to Triple-A. But on August 2, 2017, my agent called with some not-so-great news. The Padres were releasing me.

I was heartbroken. I had worked so hard to get to that point, and it felt like all of my dreams were crashing down around me. I was 27 years old with a wife and two young kids at home, and I had no idea what I was going to do next.

I packed up my locker and said goodbye to my teammates, many of whom I had played with for several years. I drove home to San Diego trying to wrap my head around what had just happened.

For the next few weeks, I tried unsuccessfully to find another team to play for. But as the baseball season came to an end, it became increasingly clear that my time in the game was over.

So now, here I am: a former professional baseball player trying to figure out what’s next. It’s been a tough transition, but I’m starting to realize that there is life after baseball. And while my playing days may be over, I’m excited for what the future holds.

Conclusion

It has been an honor and a privilege to follow Alex Young’s Baseball Career I have enjoyed every minute of it, and I hope that he has enjoyed it as well. I want to thank him for his time, his effort, and his dedication to the game. I also want to thank him for his patience with me, as I am sure that there were times when I was a pain in the neck. Thanks also to his parents, who have been so supportive of him throughout his career.

I believe that Alex Young has what it takes to be a successful Major League pitcher. He has the talent, the work ethic, the intelligence, and the determination to succeed. I believe that he will continue to work hard and get better with each passing year. I am confident that he will one day achieve his goal of pitching in the Major Leagues

Alex Young: A Baseball Journey