The last time Prince George's Jared Young batted in a game that mattered for the Iowa Cubs, he ended their triple-A season with a two-run walk-off home run.
Now, with a new season beginning tonight in Des Moines, Iowa, Young has something new in his tool kit – Major League and Team Canada experience - that he hopes will lead him to his ultimate goal to become an everyday Major League Baseball player.
Coming off a stint last September with the Chicago Cubs, Young’s sixth spring as a professional baseball player has already delivered a career highlight when he played for Team Canada at the World Baseball Classic.
That started with an exhibition game against the Cubs in which he hit a two-run double early in the game. Switching from designated hitter to left field to first base, he also clubbed a home run in Canada’s second game of the tournament for his team’s only run in a 12-1 loss to the United States. In six games with Chicago last year, Young collected five hits in 19 at-bats for a .263 batting average. He played 109 games in his first full triple-A season with I-Cubs and hit .230 with 17 home runs and 59 RBI.
“I’m looking forward to another really good season, the ball’s in my court and if you play really good and get some fortunate bounces, anything can happen ,” said Young. “The better you play, the better chance you give yourself to play in the big leagues. You just have to go out there and do it. It’s just a matter of putting everything together and being consistent.”
Young's minor league contract with the Cubs expires at the end of the season.
Iowa opens at home Friday against the Columbus Clippers.
