Walter Young (baseball player)
Encyclopedia
Walter Earnest Young, Jr. (born February 18, 1980) is a former Major League Baseball
first baseman
and designated hitter
who played for the Baltimore Orioles
in 2005.
He is known for his large size and his ability to hit towering home run
s. Young is listed at 6' 5" and 322 pounds, giving him a Body Mass Index
of 38.2 (over 30 is considered "obese"), the highest BMI of any major-league player in history.
, Mississippi
. An accomplished high school football
player at Purvis High School
in Purvis
, Mississippi
, Young turned down a scholarship offer from LSU
to sign with and play baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates
.
He advanced steadily through the system, but before the season the Pirates released him. He was claimed on waivers by the Orioles and assigned to their Class AA affiliate, the Bowie Baysox
. Young recovered from a slow start in Bowie to set a club record with 33 home run
s and appear in the Eastern League
All-Star
Game. In , he participated in the Orioles' spring training
, and started the regular season with the Orioles' Class AAA affiliate, the Ottawa Lynx
.
Young was called up to the Orioles on September 1, 2005, after batting .286 with 13 home runs and 81 RBIs at Ottawa. Since 2005 was the last year that he could be optioned to the minors without having to pass through waivers, the Orioles said upon promoting him that they would use him in September to see if he fit into their plans for . Young played 15 games for the Orioles in 2005, finishing with a .303 (10 for 33) batting average, one home run, and 3 RBIs. In the offseason, Young played for LaGuaria in the Venezuelan Winter League.
In January 2006, Young was designated for assignment by the Orioles, after the O's had signed first basemen/outfielders Jeff Conine
and Kevin Millar
. Young was then claimed off waivers by the San Diego Padres
, but faced much competition for the first base job: although their regular first baseman, Ryan Klesko
, started the season on the disabled list
, Young did not win a spot on the major league roster out of spring training; Adrian Gonzalez
became their starting first baseman instead. Young was sent to the Padres' Class AAA affiliate, the Portland Beavers, where he shared a first-base job with Paul McAnulty
. He started the season in a slump; and although he hit his second and third home runs for the Beavers on April 23, 2006, the Padres released him two days later to make room for pitcher Jon Adkins
, who they were sending back to Portland.
On May 8, the Houston Astros
signed Young and assigned him to their Class AA affiliate, the Corpus Christi Hooks
, where he spent the rest of the season and watched Hunter Pence
lead the team to a Texas League
championship.
On March 29, , the independent Winnipeg Goldeyes
signed Young. Young spent the full 2007 season with the Goldeyes, batting .313 with 21 home runs, 78 RBIs, and two stolen bases. The Goldeyes exercised Young's 2008 option following the season, but instead he signed with the Sussex Skyhawks
. Later in 2008, Young moved to the Sioux City Explorers
and became an integral part leading the team to the American Association playoffs where he hit .367 with 5 home runs and 29 RBIs in only 26 games.
In January 2009, Young re-signed with Sioux City and played for the Explorers until the end of June. In July, he signed to play for the Edmonton Capitals of the Golden Baseball League. After about a month there, he was released on August 17. He began playing semi-pro baseball with his hometown Hattiesburg Black Sox
in 2010.
.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
and designated hitter
Designated hitter
In baseball, the designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10, an official position adopted by the American League in 1973 that allows teams to designate a player, known as the designated hitter , to bat in place of the pitcher each time he would otherwise come to...
who played for the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
in 2005.
He is known for his large size and his ability to hit towering home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s. Young is listed at 6' 5" and 322 pounds, giving him a Body Mass Index
Body mass index
The body mass index , or Quetelet index, is a heuristic proxy for human body fat based on an individual's weight and height. BMI does not actually measure the percentage of body fat. It was invented between 1830 and 1850 by the Belgian polymath Adolphe Quetelet during the course of developing...
of 38.2 (over 30 is considered "obese"), the highest BMI of any major-league player in history.
Baseball career
Young was born in HattiesburgHattiesburg, Mississippi
Hattiesburg is a city in Forrest County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 44,779 at the 2000 census . It is the county seat of Forrest County...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
. An accomplished high school football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player at Purvis High School
Purvis High School
Purvis High School is a school within the Lamar County School District. It is located in Purvis at the address: 220 School St. Purvis, MS 39475....
in Purvis
Purvis, Mississippi
Purvis is a city in Lamar County, Mississippi, United States. It is part of the Hattiesburg, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,164 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lamar County. The Town of Purvis was incorporated on February 25, 1888 and was founded by...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, Young turned down a scholarship offer from LSU
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
to sign with and play baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
.
He advanced steadily through the system, but before the season the Pirates released him. He was claimed on waivers by the Orioles and assigned to their Class AA affiliate, the Bowie Baysox
Bowie Baysox
The Bowie Baysox are a minor league baseball team located in Bowie, Maryland. They are the class-AA affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, and play in the Eastern League...
. Young recovered from a slow start in Bowie to set a club record with 33 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and appear in the Eastern League
Eastern League (U.S. baseball)
The Eastern League is a minor league baseball league which operates primarily in the northeastern United States, although it has had a team in Ohio since 1989. The Eastern League has played at the AA level since 1963. The league was founded in 1923 as the New York-Pennsylvania League...
All-Star
All-star
All-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...
Game. In , he participated in the Orioles' spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
, and started the regular season with the Orioles' Class AAA affiliate, the Ottawa Lynx
Ottawa Lynx
The Ottawa Lynx were a minor league baseball team that formerly competed in the Triple-A International League from 1993 to 2007. The team's home field was Lynx Stadium in Ottawa, Ontario. Over the team's 15 seasons, it was the Triple-A Minor League affiliate of the Montreal Expos , Baltimore...
.
Young was called up to the Orioles on September 1, 2005, after batting .286 with 13 home runs and 81 RBIs at Ottawa. Since 2005 was the last year that he could be optioned to the minors without having to pass through waivers, the Orioles said upon promoting him that they would use him in September to see if he fit into their plans for . Young played 15 games for the Orioles in 2005, finishing with a .303 (10 for 33) batting average, one home run, and 3 RBIs. In the offseason, Young played for LaGuaria in the Venezuelan Winter League.
In January 2006, Young was designated for assignment by the Orioles, after the O's had signed first basemen/outfielders Jeff Conine
Jeff Conine
Jeffrey Guy Conine is a former Major League Baseball first baseman/outfielder who played several years with the Florida Marlins. Previously, Conine played with the Kansas City Royals , Florida Marlins , Baltimore Orioles , Philadelphia Phillies , Cincinnati Reds , and New York Mets . He batted and...
and Kevin Millar
Kevin Millar
Kevin Charles Millar is an American former professional baseball first baseman and current analyst for MLB Network and New England Sports Network. Millar played college baseball at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, where he continues to reside in the off-season. Millar is the nephew of former...
. Young was then claimed off waivers by the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
, but faced much competition for the first base job: although their regular first baseman, Ryan Klesko
Ryan Klesko
Ryan Anthony Klesko , is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and corner outfielder, who played for the Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres, and the San Francisco Giants...
, started the season on the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
, Young did not win a spot on the major league roster out of spring training; Adrian Gonzalez
Adrián González
Adrian Gonzalez is an American professional baseball first baseman with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball.Gonzalez was the first overall pick in the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft by the Florida Marlins. He was traded to the Texas Rangers, and later to the San Diego Padres, where he...
became their starting first baseman instead. Young was sent to the Padres' Class AAA affiliate, the Portland Beavers, where he shared a first-base job with Paul McAnulty
Paul McAnulty
Paul Michael McAnulty is a Major League Baseball infielder. He played college baseball at Long Beach State.-San Diego Padres:...
. He started the season in a slump; and although he hit his second and third home runs for the Beavers on April 23, 2006, the Padres released him two days later to make room for pitcher Jon Adkins
Jon Adkins
Jonathan Scott Adkins is a Major League Baseball area scout for the Boston Red Sox, covering the Ohio River Valley...
, who they were sending back to Portland.
On May 8, the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
signed Young and assigned him to their Class AA affiliate, the Corpus Christi Hooks
Corpus Christi Hooks
The Corpus Christi Hooks are a minor league baseball team of the Texas League, and are the Double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros. They are located in Corpus Christi, Texas, and are named for the city's association with fishing. The team's ownership group is headed by Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan...
, where he spent the rest of the season and watched Hunter Pence
Hunter Pence
Hunter Andrew Pence is a Major League Baseball outfielder with the Philadelphia Phillies. Pence stands tall and weighs . He bats and throws right-handed.-Early life:...
lead the team to a Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
championship.
On March 29, , the independent Winnipeg Goldeyes
Winnipeg Goldeyes
The Winnipeg Goldeyes are a professional baseball team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in Canada. The Goldeyes play in the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. From 1994 to 2010, the team was a member of the Northern League.The...
signed Young. Young spent the full 2007 season with the Goldeyes, batting .313 with 21 home runs, 78 RBIs, and two stolen bases. The Goldeyes exercised Young's 2008 option following the season, but instead he signed with the Sussex Skyhawks
Sussex Skyhawks
The Sussex Skyhawks were a professional baseball team that played at Skylands Park in Augusta, New Jersey. The team was part of the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball, an independent minor baseball league also referred to as the Can-Am League, from their inaugural season in 2006...
. Later in 2008, Young moved to the Sioux City Explorers
Sioux City Explorers
The Sioux City Explorers are a professional baseball team based in Sioux City, Iowa, in the United States. The Explorers are a member of the North Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball.They were originally to be...
and became an integral part leading the team to the American Association playoffs where he hit .367 with 5 home runs and 29 RBIs in only 26 games.
In January 2009, Young re-signed with Sioux City and played for the Explorers until the end of June. In July, he signed to play for the Edmonton Capitals of the Golden Baseball League. After about a month there, he was released on August 17. He began playing semi-pro baseball with his hometown Hattiesburg Black Sox
Hattiesburg Black Sox
The Hattiesburg Black Sox are a semi-professional baseball team located in Palmer's Crossing, outside Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The team started in 1941 by Milton Barnes as part of the Independent Negro League. It was not until the mid-1980s that Barnes made the decision to integrate the team...
in 2010.
Post-baseball career
Young, who had planned to pursue a degree in criminal justice with LSU before signing with the Pirates, joined the Forrest County Sheriff’s Department and began working as a shift sergeant at the county jail. As of 2010, he was pursuing a degree from the online University of PhoenixUniversity of Phoenix
The University of Phoenix is a for-profit institution of higher learning. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Apollo Group Inc. which is publicly traded , an S&P 500 corporation based in Phoenix, Arizona...
.