Chris Young (outfielder) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chris Young |
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Young with the Boston Red Sox in 2017
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: September 5, 1983 Houston, Texas, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| August 18, 2006, for the Arizona Diamondbacks | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| July 3, 2018, for the Los Angeles Angels | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .235 | ||
| Home runs | 191 | ||
| Runs batted in | 590 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Christopher Brandon Young, born on September 5, 1983, is a former professional baseball player from America. He was an Outfielder in the game. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for several teams, including the Arizona Diamondbacks, Oakland Athletics, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and Los Angeles Angels.
In 2007, Chris Young made history. He became the first rookie in MLB to hit 30 home runs and steal 25 bases. Early in his career, he mostly played as a center fielder. Later, he took on a role as a fourth outfielder, meaning he was a backup who could play different outfield positions.
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Chris Young's Early Life
Chris Young was born in Houston, Texas. His parents are Carolyn and Robert Young. When Chris was in high school, his dad worked as a mechanic. His mom was a real estate agent.
Chris started playing baseball at St. Thomas More elementary and middle school. He then went to Bellaire High School, which was known for its strong baseball team. In 1999, his high school team had an amazing season. They won the Texas high school baseball championship.
In his senior year, Chris earned All-State honors. However, he broke bones in his left arm during the state playoffs. This happened while he was trying to catch a fly ball.
Chris Young's Professional Baseball Career
Playing for the Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox picked Chris Young in the 16th round of the 2001 MLB Draft. His broken arm from high school caused him to be drafted later than expected. Still, he signed for $130,000, which was a good amount for a 16th-round pick.
In 2003, he was named an All-Star outfielder in the Appalachian League. By 2005, he was recognized as a top Minor League All-Star. He was also named the Chicago White Sox Minor League Player of the Year.
Playing for the Arizona Diamondbacks
After the 2005 season, the White Sox traded Young to the Arizona Diamondbacks. This trade also involved other players. In 2006, he continued to shine as a Triple-A All-Star outfielder.
Chris Young made his first appearance in Major League Baseball on August 18, 2006. He started the 2007 season as the Diamondbacks' main center fielder. On August 17, 2007, he hit his 23rd home run of the year. This set a new rookie record for the Diamondbacks. He also became one of only eight rookies to hit 20 home runs and steal 20 bases.
For the 2007 season, Chris Young led all National League (NL) rookies in stolen bases with 27. His 32 home runs were second among NL rookies. He also had many extra-base hits and runs. He set an MLB rookie record by hitting nine leadoff home runs.
Chris Young was chosen for the 2007 Topps Major League Rookie All-Star Team. He also finished fourth in the vote for the 2007 NL Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award.
In April 2008, Young signed a five-year contract extension with the Diamondbacks. In 2008, he started 157 games in center field. He finished the year with 85 runs and 85 RBIs. He also led the team with 14 stolen bases. His batting average improved to .248.
In 2009, his batting average dropped to .212. This was the lowest among NL batters with many plate appearances. On August 10, 2009, he was sent down to the Diamondbacks' Triple-A team. This was his first time being sent to the minor leagues since 2007. When he returned, he hit 8 home runs.
On April 11, 2010, Young helped the Diamondbacks score 13 runs in one inning. This was a team record. He also made the NL All-Star Team for the first time. He took part in the 2010 Home Run Derby but was eliminated early. At the end of the season, he tied for the most errors by an outfielder in the NL. On August 7, 2010, he became the first NL player in 117 years to hit a lead-off and walk-off home run in the same game.
On August 11, 2011, he hit a 3-run home run in the tenth inning. This gave the Diamondbacks an 8–5 win against the Houston Astros. This win helped them move ahead in their division.
Playing for the Oakland Athletics
On October 20, 2012, Young was traded to the Oakland Athletics. He played for Oakland in 2013.
Playing for the New York Mets
On November 22, 2013, the New York Mets signed Chris Young to a one-year contract. Young had a tough time with the Mets. He was released by the team on August 15, 2014.
Playing for the New York Yankees
The New York Yankees signed Young to a minor league contract on August 27, 2014. He was called up to the main team on September 2, 2014. On September 11, Young hit a double to break up a no-hitter. He then hit a walk-off, three-run home run to win the game for the Yankees. The next day, Young hit his third home run in three days. He also made two great defensive plays in left field. In 23 games for the Yankees, Young batted .282 with three home runs.
Young signed another contract with the Yankees on November 8, 2014. He batted .252 for the Yankees in 2015. He mostly played against left-handed pitchers.
Playing for the Boston Red Sox
On December 2, 2015, Young signed a two-year deal with the Boston Red Sox.
The team placed Young on the disabled list in June 2016 due to a strained hamstring. He returned to the team in August. Young finished his 2016 season with a .276 batting average in 76 games.
In 2017, Young played in 90 games. However, his batting average dropped. On November 2, the Red Sox allowed Young to become a free agent.
Playing for the Los Angeles Angels
On February 18, 2018, Young signed a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Angels. He had hip surgery on August 5, which ended his season. He finished the season with a career-low batting average of .168 in 56 games. He became a free agent on October 29.
Chris Young's Life After Playing Baseball
On May 25, 2021, Chris Young joined MLB Network. He became an on-air analyst, which means he talks about baseball on TV. In 2022, he earned a degree in business administration from Arizona State University.
Awards and Honors
- 2003 – Appalachian League All-Star Outfielder
- 2005 – Baseball America 1st team Minor League All-Star Outfielder
- 2005 – Chicago White Sox Minor League Player of the Year
- 2006 – Triple-A All-Star Outfielder
- 2006 – Baseball America 2nd team Minor League All-Star Outfielder
- 2007 – Diamondbacks Rookie of the Year
- 2010 – Diamondbacks MVP Award
Chris Young's Personal Life
Chris Young's cousin, Jarrett Higgins, also played college baseball. He was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in 2009. Chris took classes at Houston Baptist University during his offseasons. After Hurricane Harvey hit his hometown of Houston in 2017, Young donated money to a relief fundraiser.
