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Princeton University Athletics
Young Named Sporting News AL Comeback Player of the Year
October 21, 2014 | Baseball
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PRINCETON, N.J. – Former Princeton University standout Chris Young has been named the American League Comeback Player of the Year by The Sporting News.
Given out by the publication since 1965, the award is voted on by 196 players in a survey, but is not officially recognized by Major League Baseball. The MLB has its own Comeback Player of the Year award, which has been handed out at the league's Players' Choice Awards since 2005.
Pitching in the big leagues for the first time since the 2012 season, Young went to spring training with the Washington Nationals on a minor-league deal before being released. Signing with the Seattle Mariners, he made 29 starts and one relief appearance, posting a 3.65 earned-run average and 108 strikeouts. Logging the third-most innings pitched in his career (165.0), his 12 victories matched a career-high set in 2005 with the Texas Rangers.
After making just nine minor league starts before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery in 2013, Young recorded the eighth-lowest opponent batting average in the AL (.234), while registering a 1.23 WHIP. His 7.8 hits allowed per nine innings was the sixth-best mark in the league. From 2009-12, Young made just 42 major league starts, battling various injuries. In 10 major league seasons, he has amassed a 65-52 overall record with a 3.77 ERA.
Young is the fifth player in Mariners history to win the comeback award, joining Willie Horton (1979), Richie Zisk (1981), Gorman Thomas (1985) and Gil Menche (2014). Receiving 49 votes, he edged out Detroit Tigers outfielder J.D. Martinez (22), the Oakland Athletics' Scott Kazmir (14), the New York Yankees' Derek Jeter (11) and the Toronto Blue Jays' Melky Cabrera (6).
Selected 89th overall (3rd round) in the 2000 draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates, Young made it to the majors with the Texas Rangers before being traded to San Diego. Playing for the Padres from 2006-10, he posted a 33-25 record with a 3.60 ERA and 489 strikeouts. With 8.0 strikeouts per nine innings, he recorded a 1.19 WHIP in 550.2 innings. In a pair of seasons with the New York Mets (2011-12), he went 5-9 with a 3.76 earned-run average.