The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

CHAVEZ Young has excelled with the Buffalo Bison since his return to Triple-A baseball and was recognised as the club’s Player of the Week.

In six games, Young hit .368, scored six runs, with three stolen bases a .478 on base percentage and a 1.004 OPS. The Bison are 4-2 over that timespan and currently lead the International League East at 41-30.

The 24-year-old Toronto Blue Jays outfielder is in the midst of a five-game hit streak and has made highlights defensively in the field to coincide with his production at the plate.

In a June 21 8-7 win over the St Paul Saints, Young made a spectacular leaping catch over the centrefield wall to rob the Saints’ Jermaine Palacios of a grand slam.

He finished 2-3 and scored a run in the Bison’s 2-1 win Sunday to conclude the six-game set against the Saints.

Over the past two weeks, Young is batting .244 with a .367 OBP. He’s doubled twice and hit a home run while scoring 10 runs and driving in six. He’s walked seven times and on the base paths, has six stolen bases.

In 26 games with the Bison this season, Young is hitting .233 with eight stolen bases, three doubles, a triple, a home run, and nine RBI.

Additionally, his father, Clayton Young threw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to a June 9 matchup against the Worcester Red Sox.

Young initially intended to begin the season with the Bison when he was assigned to the club on April 5, but was placed on rehab assignment with the Dunedin BlueJays in Single A baseball on May 14.

His time in Dunedin was highlighted by a perfect day at the plate (3-3) and his first home run of the season in the Blue Jays’ 4-0 win over the Daytona Tortugas on May 20 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona, Florida.

In five games with Dunedin he hit .278 and slugged .444 with one stolen base.

Young previously spent the 2019 season in Dunedin and 111 games he hit .247 with 99 hits and 43 RBI.

He also had an .669 OPS, slugged .354 with 24 stolen bases, 53 runs scored, 17 doubles, four triples, and six home runs.

Following the pandemic-cancelled 2020 season, he progressed to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats in the AA Eastern League. He appeared in 78 games with the Fisher Cats and hit .265 with 74 hits and 52 RBI.

He also had an .758 OPS, slugged .409 with 20 stolen bases, 41 runs scored, 15 doubles, two triples, and seven home runs.

In January, Young concluded his offseason in the final series of the Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente (LBPRC), commonly known as the Puerto Rican Winter League.

He has also spent time in the offseason with the Canberra Cavalry of the Australian Baseball League.

Young was recently a non-roster invitee to 2022 Spring Training for the second consecutive year and spent time with the major league roster in the Grapefruit League.