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02-27-2003, 01:53 AM
Young's size, power, swing capture Pirates' attention
Thursday, February 27, 2003
By Robert Dvorchak, Post-Gazette Sports Writer
BRADENTON, Fla. -- Walter Young, the player of the year in the Pirates' minor-league system last season, has elicited oohs and ahs for walloping some mammoth home runs in batting practice in his first major-league camp.
"He's a little Stargell," Manager Lloyd McClendon said. "Pops would have loved to see him swing. He can hit the ball a long way."
At 6 feet 5 and 296 pounds, Young is bigger than the late Willie Stargell, and little is an adjective that is foreign in descriptions of him. First impressions usually are that he should be playing for the Steelers, which might not be too much of a stretch since Young signed a letter of intent to play defensive end at Louisiana State before choosing baseball.
But Young is part of baseball lore now. He christened McKechnie Field's new $88,500 scoreboard, erected courtesy of the Bradenton Boosters, with a solo home run in the second inning of the Pirates' 14-1 tuneup win against Manatee Community College yesterday. The homer was the first of 17 hits for the Pirates and the first of three for Young, who also had three RBIs.
It was enough to make a big impression his first time in a Pirates uniform.
General Manager Dave Littlefield, who watched the game from the stands and had nothing new to report on efforts to sign Kenny Lofton, hadn't seen much of Young. But the offensive performance, relative to the level of competition against a local college team, validated the scouts.
"Our reports have been very solid about his ability at the plate," Littlefield said. "Not just in power -- that's something you obviously see with his size -- but the fact he has real good balance. Those are traits you look for in good hitters. He takes the ball the other way, takes pitches, tracks them. Today was a nice first showing for him."
In his fifth year of professional baseball, Young brings some lofty credentials into camp.
Playing at Class A Hickory, he was the South Atlantic League player of the year and an All-Star. He led the league with 25 home runs, was second in the league with 103 RBIs and posted a .563 slugging percentage in 132 games. Although he was voted the league's best defensive first baseman by Baseball America magazine, Young committed a career-high 15 errors in the 77 games he played at first base.
"I have something to work for," said Young, 23. "To experience big-league camp, this is where you want to be. This is where it's at. I just want to work to be here."
The purpose of inviting him to camp was to hone some of those defensive skills and allow him to rub shoulders with major-leaguers. In batting practice, he has hit in the same group as Brian Giles, Jason Kendall, Kevin Young and Reggie Sanders.
"I'm trying to soak up as much knowledge as possible," Young said. "It's a learning experience. I'm ready to take what I learned into the batter's box with me. You're a different hitter once you learn different situations and learn the art of hitting. It's just a different feeling. I'm ready to let it all out."
The most he has learned is to relax and let his ability lead.
"In the minors, guys are throwing bats and cussing during batting practice," Young said. "These guys are swinging and having fun."
Young, a three-sport athlete in high school, weighed 312 pounds in 1999 when he reported to the rookie league, mainly because he was bulking up for football. He has worked to stay trimmer and will have a career-long struggle to keep from getting too big.
But his football days are long over.
"I miss it, of course. It's in my blood. But I'm glad I made the decision," Young said.
As a youth, his favorite players were the big boppers like Frank Thomas and Mo Vaughn. The Pirates would love to see him develop into the same kind of power hitter, but Young feels he's starting this year with a clean slate.
"You still have to go out there and play. It's a whole new year. I have to start over. The numbers are at zero," Young said.
But he also chuckled when he added, "Somebody's going to pay this year."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert Dvorchak can be reached at bdvorchak@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1959.
Thursday, February 27, 2003
By Robert Dvorchak, Post-Gazette Sports Writer
BRADENTON, Fla. -- Walter Young, the player of the year in the Pirates' minor-league system last season, has elicited oohs and ahs for walloping some mammoth home runs in batting practice in his first major-league camp.
"He's a little Stargell," Manager Lloyd McClendon said. "Pops would have loved to see him swing. He can hit the ball a long way."
At 6 feet 5 and 296 pounds, Young is bigger than the late Willie Stargell, and little is an adjective that is foreign in descriptions of him. First impressions usually are that he should be playing for the Steelers, which might not be too much of a stretch since Young signed a letter of intent to play defensive end at Louisiana State before choosing baseball.
But Young is part of baseball lore now. He christened McKechnie Field's new $88,500 scoreboard, erected courtesy of the Bradenton Boosters, with a solo home run in the second inning of the Pirates' 14-1 tuneup win against Manatee Community College yesterday. The homer was the first of 17 hits for the Pirates and the first of three for Young, who also had three RBIs.
It was enough to make a big impression his first time in a Pirates uniform.
General Manager Dave Littlefield, who watched the game from the stands and had nothing new to report on efforts to sign Kenny Lofton, hadn't seen much of Young. But the offensive performance, relative to the level of competition against a local college team, validated the scouts.
"Our reports have been very solid about his ability at the plate," Littlefield said. "Not just in power -- that's something you obviously see with his size -- but the fact he has real good balance. Those are traits you look for in good hitters. He takes the ball the other way, takes pitches, tracks them. Today was a nice first showing for him."
In his fifth year of professional baseball, Young brings some lofty credentials into camp.
Playing at Class A Hickory, he was the South Atlantic League player of the year and an All-Star. He led the league with 25 home runs, was second in the league with 103 RBIs and posted a .563 slugging percentage in 132 games. Although he was voted the league's best defensive first baseman by Baseball America magazine, Young committed a career-high 15 errors in the 77 games he played at first base.
"I have something to work for," said Young, 23. "To experience big-league camp, this is where you want to be. This is where it's at. I just want to work to be here."
The purpose of inviting him to camp was to hone some of those defensive skills and allow him to rub shoulders with major-leaguers. In batting practice, he has hit in the same group as Brian Giles, Jason Kendall, Kevin Young and Reggie Sanders.
"I'm trying to soak up as much knowledge as possible," Young said. "It's a learning experience. I'm ready to take what I learned into the batter's box with me. You're a different hitter once you learn different situations and learn the art of hitting. It's just a different feeling. I'm ready to let it all out."
The most he has learned is to relax and let his ability lead.
"In the minors, guys are throwing bats and cussing during batting practice," Young said. "These guys are swinging and having fun."
Young, a three-sport athlete in high school, weighed 312 pounds in 1999 when he reported to the rookie league, mainly because he was bulking up for football. He has worked to stay trimmer and will have a career-long struggle to keep from getting too big.
But his football days are long over.
"I miss it, of course. It's in my blood. But I'm glad I made the decision," Young said.
As a youth, his favorite players were the big boppers like Frank Thomas and Mo Vaughn. The Pirates would love to see him develop into the same kind of power hitter, but Young feels he's starting this year with a clean slate.
"You still have to go out there and play. It's a whole new year. I have to start over. The numbers are at zero," Young said.
But he also chuckled when he added, "Somebody's going to pay this year."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert Dvorchak can be reached at bdvorchak@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1959.