Chris

Young

Young is batting .273/.363/.539 and is 21-for-26 in steal attempts in 98 games. It’s not at all likely to happen, but it’d be interesting to see him go from to Cincinnati in a Ken Griffey Jr. trade, considering the player he best compares to, Mike Cameron, was also dealt from the White Sox to the Reds. Cameron was traded for Paul Konerko after the 1998 season.

Young is still rehabbing from labrum surgery on both hips. He’ll be a free agent this offseason and will probably have to settle for a minor league contract.

Young has four homers in seven games and is batting .286/.366/.546 in 119 at-bats since retuning from a broken wrist.

It was a two-run shot in the fourth inning. Young also walked while making his second start in center field since he was recalled last Friday. He probably has a little value in NL-only leagues now than Shawn Green is a Met.

This would seem to show exactly what the Diamondbacks think about Carlos Quentin’s ability to play center fielder. Eric Byrnes is playing well enough that Young isn’t going to have much to do, though the 22-year-old is starting in center field tonight. He’ll probably join fellow rookie Alberto Callaspo on the bench most of the time. Maybe a Shawn Green trade would give him a little value in NL-only leagues.

Not wasting any time in trying to establish himself as the leading candidate to act as Arizona’s center fielder next year, Young is batting .409 with five extra-base hits in 22 at-bats since being called up. He’s going to keep stealing at-bats from Carlos Quentin as long as he remains hot.

Young only hit second once last season, and hadn’t hit there at all this spring. Aaron Hill, who had been projected by many to hit second, is hitting eighth. Standard operating procedure for manager Kirk Gibson who regularly likes to mix things up in his order.

Manager Kirk Gibson decided to mix things up by putting Young in the second slot in the lineup on Friday and it paid dividends early with the first-inning blast. Young has always possessed a tantalizing power/speed combination, but has also struggled to make consistent contact. His fantasy value will increase if he manages to remain hitting second, as he’ll see additional at bats and an increase in runs scored.

Gibson wouldn’t offer a timetable for the outfielder. Young has been diagnosed with a slight ligament tear in his right shoulder, as well as a deep bruise. It sounds like Gerardo Parra will be seeing a lot of center field for multiple weeks.

It was his first game action since being placed on the disabled list with a slight ligament tear in his right shoulder. He’s scheduled to play in another game Sunday, after which the Diamondbacks could send him out on an official minor league rehab assignment. Barring any setbacks, he could be ready to rejoin the Diamondbacks at some point next week.