Yankees Editorial: Chris Young’s Quality Work From Backup Position
The New York Yankees signed Chris Young to a one year, 2.5 million deal this off-season. This came after just 23 games with the Yankees in the 2014 season, after they picked him up to maybe add some hitting (and health) to what was an ailing year. He ended the season hitting .282 with three homers and 10 RBIs in those 23 games. The Yankees saw enough promise in him to bring him back, even though they knew at that time last year they had the trio of Jacoby Ellsbury, Brett Gardner and Carlos Beltran under contract and quite a few outfield prospects in the minors waiting to come up. Now, it seems as if they made the right decision (so far), so let’s give a big “thank you” to the Mets!
Chris Young has a .276 average, three homers, and eight RBIs in 29 at-bats so far this season. Aside from his bat, Chris Young provides insurance for the Yankees when the struggling Carlos Beltran is in line for a day off. Interestingly enough, Beltran was supposed to play against the Tampa Bay Rays the same day Young hit his Grand Slam to make it a nine run beating, so yes, as unlikely as it seemed last season when the Yankees first signed him, Chris Young is a bigger asset to this team now than anyone would have ever expected.
Chris Young has a chance to make a name for himself in the Yankees organization as they head towards the future. With Beltran getting older and older by the at-bat, Young can very well solidify himself as the Yankees third outfielder (and then call up Aaron Judge to be the fourth) in the near future.
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