The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

CHAVEZ Young became the latest Bahamian minor league prospect featured on Major League Baseball Pipeline’s top 30 projections for each franchise.

Young was listed as the Toronto Blue Jays’ No.23 prospect yesterday and the franchise’s farm system was listed as No.5 overall.

“A switch-hitter with different profiles on each side of the plate, Young projects to hit for more average as a lefty. He’ll demonstrate an advanced approach from that side, with a swing that produces line-drive contact across the entire field. His right-handed stroke is more power-oriented, but it also comes with natural swing-and-miss tendencies.

“He’ll draw walks from both sides and generally gets on base at an above-average clip, while his above-average speed makes him a menace on the basepaths,” his MLB Prospect analysis said.

“Much of Young’s future value is tied to his ability to stick in centre field. He’s a solid, if unspectacular defender up the middle, with good range and instincts, as well as arm strength that’s among the best in the system and allows him to profile in right field. He saw near equal time at both spots last season, recording 15 outfield assists overall.”

Young’s standout season last year made such an impact on the Blue Jays organisation that the front office immediately recognised him as one of its rising stars.

Blue Jays’ general manager Ross Atkins noted Young as one of the most impressive minor leaguers in the team’s farm system. Atkins called Young “a prospect who doesn’t get talked about enough” following a season where he was the only player at any minor league level to compile 50 extra base hits and more than 40 stolen bases.

Young led the Lansing Lugnuts in batting average runs scored and stolen bases. It was a season of milestones for the 21-year-old outfielder as he was named a Midwest League All-Star.

In 125 games, Young hit .285 with 134 hits and 57 RBI. He also had an .808 OPS, slugged .445 with 44 stolen bases, 88 runs scored, 209 total bases, 33 doubles, nine triples and eight home runs.

Young finished tied for second the Midwest league total bases, second in both doubles and triples, tied for third in stolen bases and his 134 hits ranked sixth.

Defensively, playing in centre and right field he totalled 15 outfield assists along with 290 putouts and a .984 fielding percentage.