Matt Young (outfielder)
Encyclopedia
Matthew E. Young is a Major League Baseball
outfielder
and the University of New Mexico
. In 2002, as a freshman at the University of New Mexico, he hit .385 with 17 stolen bases in 55 games, and was named the school's 2002 Male Athlete of the Year. In 2003, he hit .327 with 10 stolen bases in 56 games. In 2004, he hit .381 with 16 stolen bases in 56 games. Before he could return to UNM for his senior year, Matt was signed by the Braves.
In his first professional season, Young played for the Rome Braves
and hit .312 with six home runs, 52 RBIs and 10 stolen bases in 114 games. The following season, he hit .274 with two home runs, 58 RBIs, and 22 stolen bases in 131 games between the Myrtle Beach Pelicans
and Mississippi Braves
. He played for the Pelicans and Mississippi Braves again in 2007, hitting a combined .269 with one home runs, 33 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases in 98 games.
With Mississippi again in 2008, Young hit .289 with three home runs, 50 RBIs and 30 stolen bases in 135 games. On June 27, 2008, he went 4-5, and set a new Southern League record of 11 consecutive hits. The previous mark of 10 consecutive hits had stood for 32 years. The Mississippi Braves won the Southern League Championship in 2008, and Young followed that by hitting .370 (40-for-108) with 10 doubles, three triples, one home run, and 24 RBIs in 29 games for the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League.
Young split 2009 between Mississippi and the Gwinnett Braves
, hitting a combined .284 with five home runs, 36 RBIs, and 43 stolen bases in 137 games. He also earned his 2nd consecutive Southern League "Best Hustler" award.
With Gwinnett in 2010, Young hit .300 with three home runs, 35 RBIs and 39 stolen bases in 134 games.
On March 27, 2011 after performing well in the Atlanta Braves
Spring Training camp, Young was informed that he had made one of the final bench spots on the major league club, placing him on the 25-man roster. In the third game of the season, Young made his Major-league debut, pinch-running for Chipper Jones
and scoring a run.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
Career
Prior to playing professionally, Young attended Plano East Senior High SchoolPlano East Senior High School
Plano East Senior High School is a secondary school in Plano, Texas serving high school juniors and seniors. It is part of the Plano Independent School District....
and the University of New Mexico
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
. In 2002, as a freshman at the University of New Mexico, he hit .385 with 17 stolen bases in 55 games, and was named the school's 2002 Male Athlete of the Year. In 2003, he hit .327 with 10 stolen bases in 56 games. In 2004, he hit .381 with 16 stolen bases in 56 games. Before he could return to UNM for his senior year, Matt was signed by the Braves.
In his first professional season, Young played for the Rome Braves
Rome Braves
The Rome Braves are a Class-A minor league affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. In 2003, the team, previously known as the Macon Braves, moved from Macon, Georgia, to Rome, Georgia, 60 miles northwest of Atlanta....
and hit .312 with six home runs, 52 RBIs and 10 stolen bases in 114 games. The following season, he hit .274 with two home runs, 58 RBIs, and 22 stolen bases in 131 games between the Myrtle Beach Pelicans
Myrtle Beach Pelicans
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans are a minor league baseball team in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. They are a Class A Advanced team in the Carolina League and the franchise is currently the farm team of the Texas Rangers. From their inaugural season until 2010, the Pelicans were an affiliate of the...
and Mississippi Braves
Mississippi Braves
The Mississippi Braves, or M-Braves as they are referred to locally, are a minor league baseball team based in Pearl, Mississippi, a suburb of Jackson. The team is the Class AA affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, and plays in the Southern League. The team is owned and operated by Liberty Media, which...
. He played for the Pelicans and Mississippi Braves again in 2007, hitting a combined .269 with one home runs, 33 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases in 98 games.
With Mississippi again in 2008, Young hit .289 with three home runs, 50 RBIs and 30 stolen bases in 135 games. On June 27, 2008, he went 4-5, and set a new Southern League record of 11 consecutive hits. The previous mark of 10 consecutive hits had stood for 32 years. The Mississippi Braves won the Southern League Championship in 2008, and Young followed that by hitting .370 (40-for-108) with 10 doubles, three triples, one home run, and 24 RBIs in 29 games for the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League.
Young split 2009 between Mississippi and the Gwinnett Braves
Gwinnett Braves
The Gwinnett Braves are a minor league baseball team in the International League, the Triple-A affiliate of the major league Atlanta Braves. The team was previously the Richmond Braves for 43 seasons . On January 14, 2008, it was announced that the Richmond Braves would move from Richmond,...
, hitting a combined .284 with five home runs, 36 RBIs, and 43 stolen bases in 137 games. He also earned his 2nd consecutive Southern League "Best Hustler" award.
With Gwinnett in 2010, Young hit .300 with three home runs, 35 RBIs and 39 stolen bases in 134 games.
On March 27, 2011 after performing well in the Atlanta Braves
2011 Atlanta Braves season
The 2011 Atlanta Braves season was the Braves' 46th season in Atlanta, and the 136th of the franchise. For the first time since the 1990 season, Bobby Cox did not manage the club, having retired following the 2010 season. He was succeeded by Fredi González, the former third-base coach for the...
Spring Training camp, Young was informed that he had made one of the final bench spots on the major league club, placing him on the 25-man roster. In the third game of the season, Young made his Major-league debut, pinch-running for Chipper Jones
Chipper Jones
Larry Wayne "Chipper" Jones, Jr. is a Major League baseball player for the National League's Atlanta Braves. Although initially a shortstop, he has spent most of his career as the starting third baseman for the Braves...
and scoring a run.