Background: Fifth-round selection of the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1997 draft from UC Santa Barbara. Traded to Texas along with pitcher Darwin Cubillan for right-hander Esteban Loaiza in 2000 while in Double-A. Young, 28, has quietly emerged as one of the American League’s best players.
What’s up: Young can’t leave home without his American Express card – or driver’s license for that matter. No one recognizes him on sight, wouldn’t know him if he hugged them on the street. Yet, he’s the reason few in Texas lament the Alex Rodriguez trade. Young and Alfonso Soriano comprise the most potent double-play combination in baseball.
Stat line: Chasing his first batting title, Young became only the 22nd player in major-league history to post three consecutive 200-hit seasons last week. The only active players who have matched the feat are Seattle’s Ichiro Suzuki and the Yankees’ Derek Jeter. Young plays with passion and brings plenty of power to his position. He’s on track to finish with 24 home runs and 92 RBIs. As a hitter, he’s akin to a more dynamic version of San Diego’s Mark Loretta.
What’s next: He’s the favorite to win the batting crown, showing no signs of coughing up fumes down the stretch. He’s hitting .357 this month. Texas manager Buck Showalter said Young is as good as any player he’s coached, which is something, coming from someone who has been in charge of the Yankees and Diamondbacks.
Renck’s take: Here’s why I like Young: His statistics have substance. On an underachieving Rangers team, Young plays every day and delivers in the clutch. He is hitting .366 with runners in scoring position, including a .444 clip with two outs. He’s the kind of player who can form an organization’s identity and change a culture of losing.
