PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- After talking to Nationals right-hander Terrell Young, one can understand why he was never able to play past Class A ball in the Reds organization.

A year after being drafted in the 10th round of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft, Young, now 23, had a torn ligament in his right shoulder and didn't return to the mound until the '06 season.

Young then had another problem: He had a tough time throwing strikes. He had a blazing fastball, which was clocked in the low to mid-90s, but didn't have a secondary pitch to keep hitters off balance.

Two legendary pitchers from Cincinnati, however, came to Young's rescue toward the end of the 2007 season. Tom Browning and Mario Soto were one-time aces for the Reds, and they proved to be difference makers for Young.

Browning taught Young how to keep his fastball in the strike zone on a consistent basis, while Soto helped Young develop a changeup.

"If it wasn't for Tom Browning and Mario Soto, I don't think I would be around playing baseball," Young said. "I would probably be working at Wal-Mart somewhere. I worked on my pitches during the offseason, and I just got better at it."

Browning and Soto's advice paid off. In 2008, Young ended up having the best season of his professional baseball career, posting a combined 2.88 ERA for Class A Sarasota and Class A Dayton. In 43 relief outings, he tallied a 1.68 strikeout-to-walk ratio (47 strikeouts/28 walks).

"I could throw my changeup at any count," Young said about last season.

After the 2008 season, the Reds left Young unprotected in the Rule 5 Draft, and he was selected by the Nationals with the first pick in the Major League Phase. Young is now trying to compete for a spot in the bullpen.

"My agent told me I was the first overall pick in the Rule 5 [Draft]," Young said. "I called my mom and I had tears in my eyes. Now I have to work hard for it. The new start means a lot to me. I have to throw a lot of strikes, get guys out and help them win games."

Young's new life with the Nationals is paying off thus far. He has appeared in three exhibition games and has given up just one run in five innings. When Young is on the mound, he thinks about one of the coaches who helped him get better.

"I'm throwing strikes," Young said. "I'm not walking too many guys. I feel a whole lot better. I'm staying ahead of batters. I'm doing my job. That why they got me in the Rule 5 Draft. When I throw my changeup, I think of Mario Soto."