We’ve talked a lot about how much Orioles GM Mike Elias loves scouting international prospects, but the other side of scouting that he loves is that of college pitching prospects.
That’s where right-hander Brandon Young enters the equation. Let’s break down the young and somewhat crazy career of the O’s No. 19 overall prospect on this edition of Prospect Profiles.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40
Young’s career starts at the JUCO level at Howard College in Texas, and he put on a show, to say the least. In two seasons, Young started 19 games and had an 8-6 record with a 5.25 ERA in 85.2 innings of work. He gave up 81 hits, 50 earned runs, walked 55 batters and struck out 108.
Young would transfer out of JUCO after his sophomore season in 2018 to play D1 college baseball at Louisiana-Lafayette, where he spent his junior and senior years. He pitched a total of 20 games and made 12 starts, where he had an ERA of 3.65 in 79 total innings of work.
Young gave up 54 hits, 32 earned runs, walked 43 batters and struck out 109. His collegiate resume wasn’t enough for Young to be drafted in 2020, but the Orioles decided to take the chance and sign the Lumberton native as an undrafted college free agent.
Young started the 2021 season with the Low-A Delmarva Shorebirds, where he posted a 3.23 ERA in 13 games and 47.2 innings of work. He would eventually be called up to the High-A Aberdeen IronBirds in July, where he would continue his first pro season with a 3.89 ERA in 10 games.
He would earn SAL Pitcher of the Week honors after having two shutout starts with 13 total strikeouts in the seven-day span. Young would finish the season with 114 punch outs.
Young’s 2022 season would be a little different. He spent the whole year with the Double-A Bowie Baysox, but his season consisted of just three starts. He did carry a 2.03 ERA in those three games, striking out 10 batters, but he unfortunately had to have elbow surgery.
He entered the 2023 season on the IL and didn’t come back until he did rehab assignments with the FCL rookie ball team in July. Young pitched a total of 11 starts with the FCL Orioles, Delmarva, Aberdeen and Bowie and compiled a 4.50 ERA in 40 total innings of work. He gave up 44 hits and struck out 40 batters.
Young started the 2024 season once again with Bowie and pitched to a 4.09 ERA in seven games. He would eventually get called up to Triple-A Norfolk in May, when his season changed for the better.
In 20 games and 18 starts, Young put together a 3.44 ERA with the Tides in 89 innings of work. He struck out 96 batters and only walked 33. This would earn Young the prestigious honor of being named the Jim Palmer Orioles Minor League Pitcher of the Year for the 2024 season.
A six-foot-six right-hander, Young has the chance to have a legitimate four-pitch mix. Last season, his fastball sat around 92-93 mph, topping out at 96, and his best secondary offering was his above-average mid-70s curve, thrown with high spin and good depth. He also utilizes a fading changeup that is a solid option facing left-handed hitters.
The 26-year-old certainly has a chance to make a push for the 26-man roster out of spring, as O’s manager Brandon Hyde will provide him with multiple opportunities as both a starter and out of the bullpen. If he doesn’t break camp with the big league club, expect Young to make his major league debut sometime this coming season.
What are your thoughts on O’s No. 19 overall prospect, Brandon Young? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, Twitter (X) and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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