gold star for USAHOF

48. Chris Young

After two years with the Texas Rangers, Chris Young was traded to the San Diego Padres, the team he had his longest tenure.

Young threw over 170 Innings and struck out at least 160 batters in both of his first two seasons as a Padre, going to the All-Star Game in 2007 when he had a 9-8 Record with a 3.12 ERA.  Young dealt with injuries over the next three seasons and only appeared in 36 Games in this stretch.  He left San Diego for the Mets as a Free Agent in 2011.

With San Diego, Young went 33-25 with a 3.60 ERA and 489 Strikeouts.

While Chris Young was never known for having a great Batting Average, he would bring some good power numbers to the Diamondbacks lineup.  In his rookie season (2007), Young went yard 32 times, swiped 27 bases, and finished fourth in Rookie of the Year balloting.  He would have three other seasons with 20 or more Home Runs, and three 20-Stolen Bases years for the D-Backs, but as good as the Power-Speed combo was, he did not take that consistent leap to the next level, which was the initial expectation for a number one overall pick..

Young was named an All-Star in 2010 and was also a solid defensive presence at Centerfield for the club.  Traded to the Oakland A’s in 2013, Young belted 132 Home Runs with 112 Stolen Bases and 758 Hits, though only batted .239 and had five years with over 130 Strikeouts.  That knocks him down a few spots.