BALTIMORE -- Last August, Orioles general manager Mike Elias was discussing his club’s pitching depth during a media session when, unprompted, he brought up Brandon Young. Elias said the 6-foot-6 right-hander had put himself on the “radar screen” of the front office with his performance in the Minors.
Since then, Young (the O’s No. 19 prospect, per MLB Pipeline) has seemingly been on the big league doorstep, close to receiving his first callup to the Majors.
On Saturday, the 26-year-old from Lumberton, Texas will get that opportunity.
Young was called up to start for Baltimore in the middle contest of its three-game weekend set vs. Cincinnati at Camden Yards. Right-hander Scott Blewett was designated for assignment to make room on the active 26-man roster.
“Hopefully, he is able to calm the nerves down to give us a good start,” manager Brandon Hyde said of Young.
The Orioles’ rotation has been banged up, with Zach Eflin (right lat strain) becoming the seventh starter to go on the injured list when he was placed on the 15-day IL on April 9. The team has gotten by with only four starters because it has had three off-days since losing Eflin.
Named the organization’s Jim Palmer Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2024, Young got off to a strong start upon his return to Triple-A in ‘25, tossing 11 1/3 innings without allowing an earned run over his first two starts. He allowed five earned runs in five innings in his most recent outing against Gwinnett last Saturday.
Young had a bit of an unorthodox path after leaving the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2020. He wasn’t selected in that year’s MLB Draft -- which was shortened to five rounds amid the COVID-19 pandemic -- and signed with Baltimore as an undrafted free agent.
In 2022, Young underwent Tommy John surgery for the second time. So he had only 37 professional appearances prior to the start of the ‘24 season.
Last year, Young had a 4.09 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 22 innings over seven Double-A outings. Then, he was promoted to Triple-A and recorded a 3.44 ERA with 96 strikeouts in 89 innings over 20 games (18 starts).
“Definitely satisfied, just glad to have a full, healthy season coming back after Tommy John again,” Young said of his 2024 performance during Spring Training this year.
Young, who was added to the 40-man roster last November, was a first-timer in big league camp this spring. He had a 5.68 ERA in 6 1/3 innings over three Grapefruit League appearances.
“It’s nice to watch what the older guys do, pick up on some routines and stuff and just ask them questions, be around them,” Young said at the time. “Just to have a chance and be here in camp is pretty special.”
Young made a positive impression on Baltimore’s coaching staff with his five-pitch mix featuring a four-seam fastball, changeup, cutter, curveball and sweeper. His heater typically sits around 92-94 mph, though he can ramp it up to 95-96 at times.
That stuff -- accompanied by his Minor League track record -- is why Young remained “at the forefront of the conversation” regarding who would be the next starter up, as Elias stated earlier this week.
Young will become the first pitcher either drafted or signed as an undrafted free agent by the Orioles since Elias became GM in November 2018 to reach the Majors for the team.
“Our guys are really high on the multiple pitches he throws for strikes,” Hyde said. “A guy that the organization is high on. I haven’t seen him a ton besides a couple Spring Training outings, but he’s a guy who can throw strikes. I know some of our video guys, as well as the guys in the pitching room, like his stuff quite a bit.”
Don’t be surprised if Young warms up to a classic rock song when he takes the mound on Saturday. His musical taste is inspired by his dad, Cary.
Among Young’s favorite artists are Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd. He’s also a huge Led Zeppelin fan -- hence why he has tattoos of the band’s four symbols (one representing each member) down the back of his right arm.
“Dude, every album just rocks,” said Young, whose favorite is Led Zeppelin II.