The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

CHAVEZ Young's play this season has prompted his consistent rise up the prospect ranks in the Toronto Blue Jays organisation.

In a year when he was named a Midwest League All-Star and has helped to propel his Lansing Lugnuts to clinch a playoff spot, pundits around the organisation continue to rave.

Prospect analysis website FutureBlueJays.com ranked Young at No.8 among the Blue Jays prospects while the Lansing State Journal profiled the 21-year-old outfielder for his impact on the Lugnuts. "You wouldn't ordinarily expect much from a 39th round pick, but Young is truly proving to be a diamond in the rough. The Bahamian may have been behind his peers in terms of development when he made his pro debut two years ago, but he's more than made up for that. Young has been a fixture atop Lansing's order," Future Blue Jays said.

"Young has a simple set up at the plate, gets good plate coverage, and seldom chases. He can play all three outfield spots, and has been set loose on the basepaths this year, stealing 13 in 19 attempts."

Through 77 games this season, Young is hitting .288 with 87 hits and 35 RBI. He also has an .791 OPS, slugging .444 with 20 stolen bases, 51 runs scored, 134 total bases, 23 doubles, six triples and four home runs.

Young is tied for the Midwest league lead in doubles, tied for third in triples and tied for sixth in stolen bases.

The Lugnuts are second in the league's Eastern division with a record of 54-35, 6.5 games behind the Bowling Green Hot Rod (60-28).

In the Midwest League's All-Star game, Young's Eastern team got a 3-2 victory over the Western team at Cooley Law School Stadium in Lansing, Michigan.

"Coming from a late-round draft guy, I've just had to work for everything," Young told the Lansing State Journal. "I never forget that this is my dream job. I always have got to have fun doing it, no matter where I'm at. I've got to be even-keeled through the bad days and the good days. I've got to stay on that even plane always and keep having fun. The hard work will pay off."

He spent last season with the Bluefield Blue Jays of the Appalachian League.

Yong led the Appalachian League with eight triples, was second in runs scored with 55, and seventh in total bases with 118.

In 67 games, he hit .283 with, four stolen bases, slugging .445, an on-base percentage of .336, an OPS of .781 and four home runs.