BALTIMORE -- As a toddler growing up in Lumberton, Texas, Brandon Young’s first word wasn’t the common “mama” or “dada.” It was “ball.”
From then on, Cary Young knew his son wouldn’t let anything prevent him from living out his dream of becoming a Major League baseball player. Not two Tommy John surgeries. Not beginning his collegiate career at a junior college (Howard College in Big Spring, Texas). Not a pandemic-shortened MLB Draft that left Brandon as a free agent in July 2020.
Dad was right.
On Saturday, Brandon Young became a big leaguer. The 26-year-old was called up by the Orioles and made his MLB debut. The 6-foot-6 right-hander started in Baltimore’s 9-5 win over Cincinnati at Camden Yards and allowed three runs over four-plus innings.
“Pretty unreal. I had the expectations coming in, but blew them out of the water,” Young said. “Still hard to breathe. Can’t feel my legs. But that was awesome. Everything I’ve dreamed for.”
It was an emotional day for Young’s family, who sat 26 rows behind home plate in Section 38.
“It’s times like this right here where you start thinking back to when they were that big,” said Cary, motioning low to the ground. “It could have gone either way with all the injuries and the setbacks. It’s amazing. We’re just beside ourselves with joy for him.”
The nerves were there for Young early, as the O’s No. 19 prospect (per MLB Pipeline) yielded seven hits over the first two innings, resulting in a trio of runs that gave the Reds a 3-2 lead midway through the second. But he retired the final two batters of the second -- including a punchout of Matt McLain for his first career strikeout -- and settled in from there.
Young had retired seven of eight batters before walking TJ Friedl to open the fifth and end his 81-pitch outing. Young struck out three and was picked up by his defense -- right fielder Tyler O’Neill threw out Austin Hays at the plate to end the first, while Ramón Urías turned a 5-4-3 double play to end the fourth.
“I thought he was solid,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “The stuff was good. First start in the big leagues, that’s never easy. I thought he controlled his emotions well.”
Baltimore’s bats also supported its newest starter. Cedric Mullins and Gunnar Henderson opened the bottom of the first with back-to-back home runs off Cincinnati right-hander Hunter Greene, then Ramón Laureano swatted a tie-breaking two-run homer in the third that put the O’s ahead for good during a five-homer offensive breakout.
“I’m in the dugout and I’m still trying to catch my breath, and they hit back to back in the first inning, that was freaking awesome,” Young said.
Even if Young didn’t earn a win himself, the victory was a special result for his memorable day.
“Not overwhelming, just very grateful. Just awesome looking around and taking it all in and enjoying it,” Young said. “A lot more people and a lot cooler crowd. That was really fun.”
Cary told one particular story during the game that showcased his son’s dedication and perseverance that helped get him to this point.
When Brandon was around the middle of his time at Lumberton High School, he once went with his friend and his friend’s parents on a trip to a rodeo in Houston. During the car ride, the family asked Brandon about his plans for the future.
“They asked him what he was going to do in his life after baseball. He was like, ‘I’m just going to play baseball,’” Cary recalled. “And it’s like, ‘No, no, no, after college, junior college and all that, what are you going to do?’ ‘I’m just going to play baseball.’”
No backup plan was needed. Brandon had Tommy John surgery when he was a senior in high school, then went on to play two seasons apiece at Howard College and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. After signing with the Orioles as an undrafted free agent in 2020, he underwent Tommy John again in ‘22.
But the tall, bearded, long-haired pitcher always planned on getting here. It was never an unrealistic goal to him at any point during his journey.
“That’s all he’s wanted to do. That’s been his focus. He’s worked harder than anybody I’ve ever seen,” Cary said. “He has gone above and beyond what anybody would have expected. Just elated that we’re here. Elated.”