Player Profile - Corey Young

  
Throws: Left
Height/Weight: 6'2''/175
Birthday: 12/30/1986 (Age 21) 
Roster Status: Rule V Eligible after 2011 Season

Background: Young came to the Rangers as a 12th round draft pick from Seton Hall in June this year.  Before Seton Hall, Young was a decorated high school from New Jersey, having earned honors as an all-state pitcher as named by the Newark Star Ledger.  However, he was undrafted, and went on to start almost immediately for the Pirates of Seton Hall.  He posted average peripherals and ERAs over his first two years, and entered 2008 as a 7th-12th round range draft prospect.  His 2008 campaign was almost entirely in the rotation, and he posted a career-best 3.52 ERA, going 8-4 with 79.1 innings pitched.  He struck out 78 and walked 25, and hitters hit .239 against him.  His college career showed slow, steady progress as his stuff improved.  The Rangers signed him away from his senior year, and assigned him to Spokane.

Pitches: Young enters the Rangers' organization with a starter's repertoire.  His fastball sits in the upper-80s mostly, and also has some sink due to his three-quarters arm slot.  He complements the fastball with an average curve and changeup.  Both showed solid improvement as his college career went along, and both are good reasons why he was drafted so high.  His feel for pitching was noted by scouts in many organizations, and his offspeed pitches are seen as solid.  When he changes speeds, he can add and subtract movement, and his location is pretty good with all his pitches.  Expect each of his pitches to improve steadily over time.

Professional Experience: 2008 is Young's first pro season.

2008 Season: Young signed a few days after the draft and was assigned to short-season Spokane.  He's been working out of the bullpen, a place where most think he will stick long-term.  So far, he's had good success.  In 25 innings out of the 'pen, he's posted a 3.24 ERA with 27 strikeouts and 13 walks.  Obviously his control could be better, but he's adjusting to the bullpen, and he's also only allowing hitters to hit .191 off of him.  One slight worrisome thing is that Young's splits against hitters are a little lopsided.  He's holding lefties to a .094 average, while righties are at .242.  It's good that he's so effective against lefties, but there is still some hope that Young can be an all-purpose pitcher.  His debut has been solid, and his control has been improving of late, so look for a good ending to the year.

Future Outlook: Young is someone that profiles as a middle reliever in the long-term.  However, if his stuff improves steadily like it has in the past, he has the makeup to start.  Don't be surprised to see him in the rotation at Clinton next year.  However, his success against lefties probably has him written down in the lefty specialist role for the Rangers a few years down the road.  If the Rangers choose to go that route, look for him to start at Bakersfield next year, and possibly move like Andrew Laughter has this year.  He has great feel for pitching and a relatively young arm with regards to innings, so I think he can have success as a starter for the next few years.

Profile Coming Next: OF Ben Harrison

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