Michael Brian Young... Married Cristina Barbosa (11/25/00);
three sons, Mateo (6/22/05), Emilio (10/13/09) and Antonio
(8/23/12)... 1994 graduate of Bishop Amat High School (CA)
where he lettered in baseball and soccer... Was all-state in
baseball as a junior and senior and league MVP in his senior
season... Attended UC Santa Barbara (CA)... Hit .359 with 12
homers in 1997 to earn All-Big West Conference honors...
Recipient of the 2008 and 2011 MLB Players Association's
Marvin Miller Award, given annually to an individual "whose
on-field performance and contributions to the community
inspire others to higher levels of achievement"... Only other
2-time recipients are John Smoltz (2002-03) and Jim Thome
(2001, 2004)... Was the Rangers' Roberto Clemente Award
recipient from 2009-11... Awarded the 2010 Jim Sundberg
Community Achievement Award... Launched the Michael
Young Family Foundation with wife Cristina in August 2011,
which supports the involvement of children's health in all
areas: physical, social, mental and educational... Foundation
held its first event, a celebrity bowling tournament, on
September 11, 2011, benefiting Wipe Out Kids' Cancer
(WOKC), a non-profit organization whose mission is to
eradicate pediatric cancer through research, education and
treatment while providing hope to children affected by
cancer and with which Michael has had a long and active
involvement... Created the Michael Young Family Hispanic
Scholarship Program in 2010 to award three Hispanic
students each year with college scholarships... In 2006,
began the Young Heroes Scholarship Program to provide
college scholarships to young adults that have overcome
their battles with cancer with over 90 scholarships being
awarded to date... Has also been actively involved by
donating funds and time to Goodwill of Tarrant County,
Trinity River Mission in Dallas, Christ Haven for Children,
Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Vernon Wells Perfect 10,
MLBPA Buses for Baseball and Action Team programs, and
the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation... Was elected to the
Arizona Fall League Hall of Fame in 2010... Cousin, Zachary
Padilla, was the WBO Jr. Welterweight champion from 1994-
96... Another cousin, Jason Young, is a former minor league
infielder for the San Francisco Giants, and another cousin,
Johnny Chavez, also boxed professionally... Hobbies: Golf,
billiards... Signed by: Bill Moore.
2012
Made his 11th straight Opening Day start for TEX
(2002-12), tying Ivan Rodriguez for most in team history
... T-5th in the AL in singles (131)
... Had a combined .988 (6 E, 511 TC) fielding percentage at
the 4 infield positions with 83 defensive starts; .995 (2 E,
384 TC) in 41 games (40 starts) at 1st base, .965 (2 E, 57
TC) in 16 games (14 starts) at 2nd base, .966 (2 E, 58 TC)
in 25 starts at 3rd base and 1.000 (12 TC) in 4 starts at SS
... Batted .500 (21-42) over a 10-game hitting streak, 4/11-22
... Drove in 12 runs in his first 12 games of the season
... Had a season-high 5 RBI, 8/19 at TOR
... Placed on the paternity leave list, 8/24-26, due to the
birth of his son, Antonio
... Had another 10-game hitting streak, 7/31-8/10, and a
12-game hitting streak, 9/11-23, giving him a club
record of 27 hitting streaks of 10 or more games
... Hit .301 (31-103), 6 2B, 3 HR, 13 RBI in 28 September
games
... Batted .333 (52-156) vs LHP (7 2B, 2 3B, HR, 23 RBI)
... Started at 1st base in the 1st AL Wild Card Game, 10/5
vs BAL.
2011
Tied for the major league lead with 213 hits and 155 singles,
matched 2nd most multi-hit games in ML with 61, and had the A.L.'s
3rd highest average at career best .338...was also among the
league leaders in games (T4th, 159), RBI (5th, career high 106),
sacrifice flies (T5th, 9), at bats (7th, 631), on-base percentage (8th,
.380), doubles (10th, 41), and total bases (10th, 299)...led the
Rangers in average, games, at bats, hits, doubles, triples (6), total
bases, RBI, and on-base percentage and was 3rd in runs (88)...
finished 8th in A.L. MVP voting...matched Rusty Greer (1996-97-
99) for most seasons of 40+ doubles in team history (3) and had
9th straight season with 30+ doubles...had starts at DH (69), 3rd
base (39), 1st base (36), 2nd base (13), and shortstop (1), the only
player in MLB history to play 35+ games at 3 different positions in
a season (DH, 1B, 3B) in which he had 200+ hits (Elias Sports Bureau/counting OF as one position)...became just the 5th player
since 1960 with at least 200 hits, 40 doubles, and 100 RBI in multiple seasons (also 2006), joining 3-Don Mattingly and 2 each-Todd
Helton, Al Oliver, and Cal Ripken...only other such seasons by
Rangers were Buddy Bell (1979) and Ruben Sierra (1991)...is just
the 9th player in the modern era (since 1900) to reach those minimums in a season at age 34-or-later (age as of June 30), 1st since
Colorado's Dante Bichette (1998).
2010
Made 155 starts at 3rd base and 2 at DH as longest
tenured member of the Texas roster ... ranked among A.L. leaders
in at-bats (3rd, 656), multi-hit games (3rd, 55), sac flies (T2nd, 11),
hits (T6th, 186), and runs (8th, 99)...led Rangers in games (157),
at-bats, runs, hits, and strikeouts (115), was 2nd in doubles (36),
placed 3rd in average (.284), total bases (291), RBI (91), walks
(50), slugging (.444), and on-base percentage (.330), and ranked
4th in HR (21) ... had career highs for sac flies and strikeouts.
2009
Ranked fifth in the A.L. with a .322 batting average, the second-best of career...despite playing in just 135 games, lowest ever
in a full season, topped the Rangers in average, on-base percentage (.374), OPS (.892), hits (174), total bases (280), multi-hit games
(51), 3-hit games (18), singles (114), and times on base (222)...was also among team leaders in slugging (2nd, career high .518),
infield hits (T2nd, 13), extra-base hits (3rd, 60), runs created (3rd, 86), and plate appearances (3rd, 593)...tied for eighth in the A.L.
in 3-hit games and had 13th highest OPS...started 134 games at third base and one at DH.
2008
A Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner for the first time in
his career, Young endured several physical woes and still
appeared in 155 games...batted .284 with 12 homers, 36 doubles,
and 82 RBI in 155 games for Texas...named Marvin Miller
Man of the Year in voting for the Players Choice Awards (see
separate box)...led all American League shortstops with a .984
fielding percentage to win the Gold Glove (see separate box).
2007
Named Rangers
Player of the Year...was fourth in the A.L. in hits (201) and 12th in batting (.315)...also led the team in doubles (37), games (156),
and total bases (267)...was struck in the head with a pitch from White Sox pitcher Gavin Floyd on March 13 in spring training
game...returned to play in final few spring training games but hit just .192 (23-120) over first 28 regular season contests...beginning
May 4, batted .343 (178-519) with 7 HR and 80 RBI in his final 128 games, the third-highest average in the majors in that
span...matched career high with 5 hits, July 17 at Oakland and had career-best 7 RBI, Sept. 16 at Oakland
2006
He was 13th in the American League in hitting with a .314 average and second with 217 hits. Young hit 52 doubles, setting a new club record, and the second most in the American League. He set a club record with 744 plate appearances and 691 at-bats. He was the 4th player in club history to record 4 consecutive seasons batting .300-or-higher. He was second in the Major Leagues with 69 multi-hit games. His 69 multi-hit games are 2nd-most in club history, trailing his own record of 70 set in 2004. Over last 3 seasons, he has the top 3 single-season multi-hit performances in club history (also 66 in '05) and since 2004, he is 2nd in the majors with 205 multi-hit games. Young owns 4 of top 6 single-season hits records in Rangers history. He had 103 RBI - 18th most in the American League - and is just the 5th player in club history with at least 200 hits and 100 RBI. He is also the 29th player in major league history, and 7th since 1962, to record at least 200 hits, 100 RBI and 50 doubles in a season. He recorded his 4th consecutive season with 200-or-more hits and became only the 4th player since 1940 with 200-or-more hits in 4 consecutive seasons. According to Elias Sports Bureau, Young is only the 2nd middle infielder with 200-plus hits in at-least 4 consecutive seasons, trailing only Charlie Gehringer, who did it in 5 straight seasons, from 1933-1937, while with Detroit. Young led the AL in batting with a .412 batting average with runners in scoring position and was second with a .615 average with the bases loaded. He is batting .322 since start of 2005, ranking 3rd among AL players. His 438 hits are most in the majors during that time span. He has started 254 consecutive games dating back to June 24, 2005, fifth longest active streak in the majors. He has missed only 5 games dating back to 8/25/03. He was second among American League shortstops with a .981 fielding percentage and first with 3.26 assists per nine innings. His 113 double plays were the second most by a Ranger in his career.
2005
Young, who was an All-Star shortstop for the second consecutive year, became just the 22nd player in Major League history to record a third straight 200-hit season. He won the American League batting crown while showcasing himself as perhaps the best pure hitter in the game from a mechanical standpoint. The Rangers marvel at his two-strike hitting approach and his passion for wanting to play a demanding position every single day, ala Cal Ripken, Jr. He makes all the plays defensively after initiating the switch from second base to shortstop two years ago so that Soriano could play second.
2004
Michael recorded a club record 216 hits, 2nd-most in the AL, and finished 9th in the league with a .313 average...became the first
Texas batter with multiple 200-hit seasons...had club record 70 multi-hit games, tied for the 2nd-most multi-hit games in the major
leagues...ranked among league leaders in at-bats (2nd, 690), plate appearances (2nd, 739), runs (4th, 114), triples (T4th, 9), total
bases (5th, 333)...led Texas batters in average, runs, triples, and total bases, and ranked among club leaders in RBI (3rd, 99), onbase
percentage (3rd, .353), doubles (3rd, 33), slugging percentage (4th, .483) and home runs (5th, 22)...established or matched
career highs in nearly every offensive category and was selected to the All-Star roster for the first time...started 158 games at shortstop
and 2 as designated hitter...named Rangers Player of the Year by Dallas-Fort Worth chapter of BBWAA.
Batting/Hits: Ranked 3rd in the major leagues with club-record 216 hits, 6 more than Mickey Rivers' hit total in 1980...was 2nd
straight season to bat over .300 (.306 in 2003), as he has posted a higher average every year in his 4 major league seasons...never
went more than 2 consecutive games without a hit all season, and did that just 8 times all year...over last 2 seasons, has gone more
than 2 straight games without a hit just once (3, Aug. 23-26, 2003)...hit .309 (211-682) as a shortstop, the 2nd-highest average in
club history at the position (.320 by Alex Rodriguez in 2001)...was hitting .400 as late as April 23 and batted .360 (63-175) through
May 20...had a .285 average (119-418) from May 21-Sept. 9 to lower season figure to .307...hit .351 (34-97) over final 23 games to
finish at .313...from April 9-June 12, hit safely in 48 of 56 games at .344 (85-247)...had season-high 12-game hit streak from June
28-July 9 at .385 (20-52), matching career high and also matching longest by a Texas batter in '04...for the year, hit safely in 125 of
160 games...had 18 three-hit games, T5th in the AL, and 3 four-hit games, T9th in the league...had 4th-highest home average in the
AL at .346 and ranked 6th in league with a .330 average in night games...batted club-high .346 with runners in scoring position, 5th
in the AL, and had a .330 average against lefties that ranked 8th in the league...had a .337 (85-252) average with 5 triples, 7 homers,
45 RBI and 46 runs scored in 58 games against AL West opponents...had club-record 690 at-bats, 2nd-highest total in the
league...matched career high with 9 triples, T4th most in AL...has 30 career triples, 2nd on the all-time list among Rangers behind
Ruben Sierra's 44.
Home Runs/RBI: Posted career highs with 22 homers and 99 RBI...hit 8 home runs in first 36 games through May 15...homered 4
times in span of 3 games from Sept. 4-6...that stretch included lone 2-homer game of '04, Sept. 5 at Boston, 5th 2-HR game of his
career...hit 2nd career grand slam on Sept. 21 off Oakland's Mark Mulder...hit leadoff home runs on May 7 vs. Detroit, May 13 at
Tampa Bay, July 8 at Cleveland and July 26 at Anaheim...now has 8 career leadoff HR...hit 21 home runs while at shortstop, tied for
the 5th highest total at the position in club history...posted 3 home runs in interleague games and now has 12 HR against NL opponents
in his career...hit 50th career homer on Sept. 4 at Boston, a 3-run blast in the 7th inning off Tim Wakefield...matched career
high with 4 RBI on Sept. 21 vs. Oakland and Oct. 2 at Seattle...had 17 RBI in final 13 games beginning Sept. 21...recorded 13 RBI
in 9 games from April 29-May 8...had club-leading 28 RBI in Sept./Oct., T3rd-most in majors...had 9 game-winning RBI, tied for 4thhighest
total among Rangers...posted 6 game-winning RBI in the leadoff spot, T5th-most in the majors...recorded 19 go-ahead RBI,
4th among Rangers.
Fielding: In first season at shortstop, compiled a .972 fielding percentage (19 E/667 TC) in 158 games/starts...ranked 7th in the AL
in fielding percentage...ranked among league's best in assists (4th, 423), double plays (4th, 98) and putouts (6th, 225)...committed
errors on consecutive plays in home opener, April 9 vs. Anaheim, but then went 27 straight games and 132 consecutive chances without
a miscue from April 9-May 11...had just one error in 45-game span from July 4-Aug. 25...committed 2 errors in final 22 contests...
had made just 2 career starts at shortstop entering the season.
All-Star: Selected to All-Star roster for the first time...went 0-2 as a reserve at shortstop with one assist in game on July 13 in
Houston...led all AL shortstops in player balloting with 475 votes...had finished 3rd in fan balloting.
2004 Notes: Placed 8th in AL MVP voting, the best finish for a Texas player...ranked 4th in the AL with team-high 160 games played,
same number of games as 2003...had walk-off RBI single in 10th inning of Rangers' 16-15 win on May 8 vs. Detroit, biggest comefrom-
behind win in club history...from Aug. 26, 2003 to Aug. 1, 2004, Young started 133 consecutive games before missing game on
Aug. 3, 2004 with stiff back...had appeared in 262 straight games for Texas since sitting out on April 6, 2003...named Rangers Player
of the Month for April and September/October.
2003
Ranked third in the American League with 204 hits and 63 multi-hit games while also placing among the league leaders in at-bats (4th, 666), triples (T4th, 9), games (T8th, 160), runs (9th, 106) and batting average (12th, .306)...topped the Rangers in average, at-bats, hits and triples, tied for first in doubles (33), and was second in games, runs and total bases (297)...started 158 games at second base and one at shortstop...had the second most at-bats, the third most hits and multi-hit games, and the fourth highest number of triples for a season in Rangers history...led all AL second basemen at .306, third best ever for a Rangers 2B behind Julio Franco (.341 in 1991; .316 in 1989)...had a .371 (13-35) average in first 9 games, then was 5-36 (.139) in next 9 contests, giving him a .254 mark through April 22...hit .412 (47-114) in next 29 contests, improving to .351 through May 25...still as high as .341 on June 14, then a 10-56 (.179) drought over next 13 games dropped to .310 through June 28...hit .358 (43-120) in next 27 games and was at .325 through July 29...had a .217 (31-143) mark in next 33 contests, then finished by hitting .357 (35-98) in last 23 games to improve from .298 to .306...longest hitting streak was 9 games, September 11-19 but went more than 2 consecutive games without a hit just once (3, August 23-26)...season best 4 hits 3 times...his .353 (114-323) average at home ranked second among AL qualifiers to Boston's Nomar Garciaparra (.359)...had team best .333 (42-126) mark with men in scoring position...batted .257 (86-335) with 2 strikes, seventh best in the AL and second most 2-strike hits in majors to Colorado's Todd Helton (89)...had a .296 (138-466) mark in 107 starts in the leadoff spot...his 14 homers and 72 RBI were both career-highs...ranked third among AL 2B in homers behind New York's Alfonso Soriano (38) and Seattle's Bret Boone (35)...homered twice on July 1 at Anaheim...led off Texas first inning with a home run on 3 occasions, July 1 at Anaheim, August 1 vs. Cleveland and September 3 against Kansas City...hit first career grand slam. September 5 at Minnesota...had 4 RBI in that contests and April 30 at Toronto, matching career best...placed second in Rawlings Gold Glove voting to Bret Boone...ranked third among AL second basemen with a .987 (10 E/786 TC) percentage in 159 games...set club records for games and double plays (117) for a 2B...led league second basemen in double plays, tied for first in games, and was second in putouts (305), assists (471) and chances...longest errorless streak was 48 games, May 1-June 23...appeared in 7 games at shortstop, starting on September 24 in Oakland...earned Rangers Player of the Month honors for July and September...his 666 at-bats were 4 shy of Buddy Bell's 1979 club record...had third highest hit total at 204 behind Mickey Rivers (210) and Al Oliver (209), both in 1980...his 63 multi-hit games were also third most to Rivers (65) in 1980 and Franco (64) in 1991...appeared in season's final 156 games after sitting out on April 6...only other non-start was defensive appearance on August 24...ranked fifth in the AL in pitches seen (2,788)...voted Harold McKinney Good Guy Award by local chapter of BBWAA.
2002
Finished second in the American League with 13 sacrifice bunts and tied for third with 8 triples...second on the club in games (156), at-bats (573), hits (150) and sacrifice flies (6), and placed third in runs (77) and walks (41)...started 144 games at second base, finishing with the second best fielding percentage in the league at .988...hit .435 (10-23) in season's first 10 games and had a .298 average through May 15...hit safely in final 9 games of that stretch, May 6-15, his season best...batted .134 (9-67) in next 18 contests, dropping to .234 on June 5...went 23-56 (.411) in next 15 games, improving to .278 on June 22, before slumping to .188 (21-112) in next 29 contests...batted .370 (20-54) in next 15 games before hitting .256 (46-180) in final 47 contests...had a .988 (9 E/727 TC) percentage in 152 games at second base, the AL's second best figure behind Seattle's Bret Boone (.989)...led league in assists (420), chances and double plays (97), was second in putouts (298) and placed third in games...longest errorless stretch at second was 39 games, July 15-August 26...made first major league start at shortstop, June 16 at Houston...overall appeared in 11 games at short and 4 at third base...combined with Alex Rodriguez (57) to hit 66 home runs, the most ever by a middle infield combination, 3 more than duo's total in 2001...tied for fourth most triples in club history...matched team mark with 5 hits, June 14 at Houston, producing third career 2-homer game in that contest...also tied club record with 2 triples, September 3 at Baltimore...had 4 homers in 8 games, June 10-19, then did not go deep in next 69 contests...matched career best with 4 RBI, June 12 vs. Cincinnati...batted .290 (45-155) vs. left-handed pitching and was 5-14 with the bases loaded...shared AL Player of the Week honors with Detroit's Robert Fick, June 10-16.
2001
Recalled from Oklahoma (AAA) on May 25 and started 102 games at second base...tied for fifth in AL in sacrifice hits (9)...among AL rookies, tied for third in RBI (49), finished fourth in homers (11) and slugging (.402), and scored the fifth most runs (57)...selected as the Rangers Rookie of the Year...singled on May 27 at Baltimore for first major league hit...connected for first major league homer on June 11 at Los Angeles...had pair of 2-homer contests, July 13 vs. Colorado and September 4 against Minnesota...ended Barry Zito's shutout bid with ninth inning homer on September 10 at Oakland...had a .984 (8 E/504 TC) in 104 games at second base, fifth best in the AL among second basemen with 100 or more games...started 45 games at second and one at shortstop for the RedHawks and was club's regular leadoff hitter...hit .342 (27-79) in season's first 19 games...also batted .322 (19-59) in final 16 contests...homered twice on May 3 (game 2) vs. Omaha and May 9 at New Orleans.
2000
Combined for a .291 (155-533) average with 7 homers, 79 RBI, and 25 stolen bases in 134 games with Tennessee (AA) and Tulsa (AA)...began season with Toronto's Tennessee club in Southern League, appearing in 90 games at second base and 2 at short...tied for first on the club in triples (5), was second in steals (16) and finished fourth in doubles (24)...played in Class AA All-Star Game on July 12 at Bowie, MD...traded to Texas on July 19 and started 41 games at second base and 2 as the DH for Tulsa the rest of the season, mostly as leadoff hitter...tied for Drillers team lead in triples (5) and had second highest average among players with 150 or more at-bats (.319)...joined the Rangers on September 27 for the final 5 games of the year...made his major league debut as a pinch-runner on September 29 at Oakland and was 0-2 as defensive replacement at second base the following day...played for Grand Canyon in Arizona Fall League, batting .268 with one homer and 6 RBI in 25 games.
1999
Led the Florida State League in doubles (36) and was 4th in batting (.313) and hits (155) at Dunedin...Tied club record for doubles...Ranked 4th in Toronto system in average and was 5th in steals (30)...Played in FSL all-star game and was named as utility infielder on league's post-season all-star squad...Appeared in 74 games at 2nd base and 53 at shortstop...Was organization's player of the month for July with a .382 average, 3 homers, and 20 rbi...Hit safely in 14 straight games from July 16-30...Was rated by Baseball America as Toronto's 4th best prospect and as best defensive 2nd baseman in the FSL...Played for Rancho Cucamonga in Californai Fall League, batting .295 with 8 homers and 18 rbi.
1998
Topped the South Atlantic League in games (140) was 3rd in at bats (522) and ranked 5th in hits (147) and extra base hits (54) at Hagerstown...Also led Suns in runs (86), total bases (238), and triples (5)...Hit .324 with 21 rbi in August...Led SAL 2nd basemen with .978 fielding percentage in 128 games...Also appeared in 24 games at shortstop.
1997
Tied for third in New York-Penn League in games (74) and total bases (136), tied for fourth in hits (85) and tied for fifth in RBI (48) at St. Catherines (A)...had a 16-game hitting streak from August 11-28...played in 44 games at short and 28 at second base.
