Chris Young Biography

Chris Young (fully Christopher Brandon Young) is a famous American former professional baseball outfielder. Young played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, Boston Red Sox, and Los Angeles Angels. He became the first rookie in Major League history to hit 30 home runs and steal 25 bases in 2007. While mainly a center fielder earlier in his profession, he later transitioned to a fourth outfielder role.

Chris Young Education

Young attended St. Thomas More Elementary/Middle School, where he started his baseball career. He then attended national powerhouse Bellaire High School, where he went on with his baseball career. Young later graduated with a degree in business administration from Arizona State University in 2022.

Chris Young Career

Professional career

Chicago White Sox

Young was picked by the Chicago White Sox in the 16th round of the 2001 MLB Draft. In his senior year, he suffered a broken arm that caused his draft stock to fall but he signed for $130,000, more typical of a fifth-round draft pick. Young was an Appalachian League All-Star outfielder in 2003. He was also a Baseball America 1st team Minor League All-Star outfielder and the Chicago White Sox Minor League Player of the Year in 2005.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Following the 2005 season, the White Sox traded him to the Arizona Diamondbacks with Orlando Hernandez and Luis Vizcaino for Javier Vazquez and cash. He was then a Triple-A All-Star outfielder and Baseball America 2nd team Minor League All-Star outfielder. Young then made his major league debut on August 18, 2006, and started the 2007 season as the Diamondbacks’ everyday center fielder. Against the Atlanta Braves, he hit his 23rd home run of the year on August 17, 2007, setting a Diamondbacks rookie record. Young also became the 8th rookie to hit 20 home runs and steal 20 bases.

He went on to play and contributed 4 RBIs to the Diamondbacks’ franchise-record 13-run inning on April 11, 2010. Young also made the NL All-Star Team for the first time, as a reserve. On July 9, the night prior to the All-Star Game, Young took part in the 2010 State Farm Home Run Derby but hit just one home run and was eliminated in the first round. At the conclusion of the season, he tied for the NL lead in errors by an outfielder, with 7. On August 7, 2010, during a game, Young became the first National League player in 117 years to hit a lead-off and walk-off home run in the same game.

Young then belted a 3-run homer in the bottom of the tenth against the Houston Astros on August 11, 2011. This gave the Diamondbacks an 8-5 victory and moved them a full game in front of the San Francisco Giants in the NL West. The homer came an inning following rookie slugger Paul Goldschmidt hitting a game-tying bomb of his own.

Oakland Athletics

Chris was traded to the Oakland Athletics for infielder Cliff Pennington and Yordy Cabrera on October 20, 2012. He then batted .200/.280/.379, playing for Oakland in 2013.

New York Mets

The New York Mets agreed to a one-year, $7.25 million deal with him on November 22, 2013. He then struggled with the Mets, batting .205 with 8 home runs in 254 at-bats. The Mets later designated him for assignment on August 8, 2014, and he was released on August 15.

New York Yankees

On August 27, 2014, he signed a minor league deal with the New York Yankees. Young was then called up when rosters expanded on September 2, 2014. After nine days, he broke up a no-hitter in the 8th inning with a double and then hit a walk-off, three-run home to steal the Yankees’ 5-4 win against the Tampa Bay Rays on September 11. The following day, he hit his third home run in 3 days, breaking a scoreless tie in the 11th inning, and (temporarily) pushing the Yankees into the lead over the Baltimore Orioles. He also made 2 dramatic defensive plays, twice sliding to catch fly balls in left field on September 12. He then batted .282 with three home runs in 23 games for the Yankees.

On November 8, 2014, he signed a one-year, major league deal with the Yankees worth $2.5 million. Chris then batted .252 for the Yankees in 2015, playing mostly against left-handed pitchers. He later began the 2015 AL Wild Card Game against Jacoby Ellsbury against left-handed pitcher Dallas Keuchel.

Boston Red Sox

Chris signed a two-year, $13 million deal with the Boston Red Sox on December 2, 2015. The team placed him on the 15-day disabled list on June 24, after straining his right hamstring. He did not come back to the team until August 22 and ended his 2016 season with a .276 batting average in 76 games. In 2017, he saw the field in 90 games, 14 more than the previous season. However, his batting average took a large fall, as he completed the season hitting .235/.322/.387. The Red Sox then granted him his free-agent rights on November 2.

Los Angeles Angels

Young signed a one-year, $2 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels on February 18, 2018. He was then ruled out for the season on August 5 after undergoing hip surgery. Chris completed the season hitting a career-low .168 in 56 games and elected free agency on October 29.

Post-playing career

Chris joined MLB Network as an on-air analyst on May 25, 2021.

Chris Young Age

Young is 39 years old as of 2022 and was born on September 5, 1983, in Houston, Texas, U.S. He celebrates his birthday every year on the 5th of September, and his zodiac sign is Virgo.

Chris Young Height

Young stands at an approximate height of 6 feet 10 inches (Approx. 2.08 m) tall.

Chris Young Family

Young was born in Houston, Texas to Robert Young and Carolyn Young. His father was a mechanic and his mother was a real estate agent when he was in high school. He is the cousin to Jarrett Higgins, who played college baseball at Oklahoma State University and was picked by the Colorado Rockies in the 36th round of the 2009 MLB draft.

Chris Young Wife

Young is very private about his personal life therefore it is not known if he is in any relationship. There are also no rumors of him being in any past relationship with anyone.

Chris Young’s Net Worth

Young has an estimated net worth ranging between $1 Million – $5 Million which he/she has earned through being a former baseball player and an on-air analyst.

Chris Young Salary

Young earns an annual salary ranging between $40,000 – $ 110,500.