The driving distance from Des Moines, Iowa to Chicago is 537 kilometres.
In light traffic the trip would take just under five hours and a flight connection would get you there in an hour-and-a-half.
Jared Young would be there in heartbeat. He’s just waiting for the call.
Like any other minor league baseball player, the 26-year-old infielder/outfielder from Prince George is biding his time with the triple-A Iowa Cubs, dreaming about the day when he gets his major league callup.
Now preparing for his third week on triple-A action, Young has already seen two of his friends on the Iowa team get moved up to the Chicago Cubs. First baseman Alfonso Rivas and pitcher Scott Effross made their major league debuts Sunday in a 13-1 Cub’s loss to their crosstown rival Chicago White Sox.
While it was a bit of rocky start for Effross, who came on in the sixth inning and plunked a batter and gave up a two-run home run, Rivas singled on the first pitch he faced and also hit a double in his first game.
“It was amazing for him, he had success in his debut and it’s incredible to see,” said Young Monday afternoon, from his hotel room in Indianapolis. “You definitely keep it in the back of your mind that you’re as close as you can be when you’re here in triple-A.”
No other Prince George-born baseball player has advanced to a professional career and Young knows he’s already established himself as one of the city’s sporting pioneers.
“It’s exciting,” he said. “You keep saying I’ve gone further than anybody, but I expected to, I felt my whole life that I’m going to and now it’s kind of coming to reality and I think it’s going to keep going. Let’s just say I’m not surprised that I’m doing it. I’m pretty proud of myself and you don’t get there without a decent amount of hard work.”
Chicago has used a team record 63 players this season, including 38 who had never played in the majors before, also a Cubs’ record. With one month left and the Cubs (57-75, fourth in Central Division) well out of the playoff picture, there could be some more player movement before the season ends.
“I definitely pay attention to the roster changes but it doesn’t affect me, it doesn’t affect how I play,” said Young. “You just go out and do your business and let the chips fall how they go.
“There’s been a lot of turnover. We just had a lot of guys going up and a lot coming down and things change. When half your team in in the big leagues it’s hard to win games at the triple-A level.”
Iowa dropped its fifth straight game Sunday in Des Moines, losing 4-3 in 11 innings to the Omaha Storm Chasers, the Kansas City Royals’ top farm team. Young did his best to kickstart the Cubs’ offence, delivering a bases-loaded single that scored two runs in the fifth inning. But the Storm Chasers responded with home runs in the eighth and ninth inning and got the go-ahead run in the 11th off a sacrifice fly.
Young finished the day 1-for-4 at the plate to run his batting average to .293 and improve his on-base per centage to .323. He’s averaging one hit every game and with 17 hits in 58 at-bats he’s belted three home runs and has two doubles, with 13 runs batted in.
“I’m pleased with how I’m playing and there’s always room for more improvement,” said Young. “I’m just glad I’m healthy and I’m getting some at-bats. I’m in there every day, I think that’s the best part about it.”
Defensively, Young has been nothing short of reliable, with just two errors. He played six of those games were at first base, five at third base, one in left field and one as the designated hitter.
The I-Cubs play at Principal Park, which has a capacity of 11.500 for baseball.
“I had about a week there now and loved it,” he said. “The stadium’s awesome, the workers are great and the fans were exactly what I expected. I’d heard great things.”
Young says the crowds in triple-A are bigger and the pitching is tougher to hit and the overall level of play is better, but other than it’s business as usual for him in his fourth professional season as he continues to climb the ladder.
“It’s the minor leagues, not too much different than everything else I’ve been doing the last few years,” he said. “I know I’m doing the right things. This is where I want to be. It’s not like I’m shocked or overwhelmed to be here, it’s where I want to play and it’s still just another stepping stone. I feel if you don’t have that mindset then you’re not doing it the right way.
“It’s still the minor leagues and the difference between the minors and majors, from what I here, is pretty insane. I haven’t made it yet. There’s a ton of guys on the team who have been in the bigs. I’d like to think I’m where I’m supposed to be and I’m comfortable. I know that I belong here. It’s not like I’m surprised that I’m playing with these big leaguers. I’m confident with myself.”
Young started the season in double-A with the Tennessee Smokies. He missed most of May and June with a separated shoulder but got in a groove right away coming off IR and got the call to Iowa on Aug. 10. With the two teams combined he’s hitting .316 with seven home runs, 35 RBI and four stolen bases.
Iowa (42-60, sixth in Midwest Division) begins a six-game set on Tuesday in Indianapolis against the Indians (48-53, fourth in Midwest).
Iowa’s games are webcast live by subscription on www.milb.com/iowa. The team’s radio broadcasts are available free of charge on the same website.
Young’s parents in Prince George, Dana and Randy, will have to be ready to make some last-minute travel plans to get to the States if their youngest son gets that call to join the major league club.
“If that happens, that’ll be their problem,” he said.
