(Updated at 3:00 p.m.)
Wednesday, September 14th, 2022 was just another day on the calendar for many people.
For Jared Young (and his Prince George family), it was special, memorable and a day not to forget.
The 27-year-old Young can now say he has fulfilled a dream and made the roster of a Major League Baseball team.
He is the first-ever player from P.G. that can make that claim.
With Chicago Cubs outfielder Rafael Ortega suffering a long-term injury, that opened the door for Young, who was called up from their Triple-A farm club the Iowa Cubs
The #Cubs today placed OF Rafael Ortega on the 60-day IL with a left ring finger fracture and selected OF Jared Young from @IowaCubs. pic.twitter.com/ZGMNFEy80N
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 14, 2022
Young is both an outfielder and a first baseman.
He was given the promotion after playing 108 games this year with Iowa, batting .228 with 16 homers and 57 RBIs.
It was five years ago when Young knew there would always be this chance if he continued to master his craft, work hard, produce impressive numbers, and be in the right place with the right team at the right time.
The former Prince George Knight became a member of the Cubs organization when Chicago selected him (he was with Old Dominion University at the time), in the 15th round of the 2017 MLB Draft.
Today (Friday) started a three-game series for the (62-82) Cubs who hosted the (62-82) Colorado Rockies.
Young started at first base and batted sixth going 1-for-4 that included an 8th inning double in a 2-1 win.
First major league hit for Jared Young! 👏 pic.twitter.com/XWRTn3N5EN
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 16, 2022
Young on the cheers he received from Cubs fans after his first hit: “That’s probably the loudest building I’ve ever been in. That was pretty cool. … It was a surreal day.” https://t.co/6O0bJtkCIK
— Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) September 16, 2022
Here is today’s #Cubs starting lineup at Wrigley Field. pic.twitter.com/KZaMVqf7pd
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 16, 2022
Neither team is going to the postseason, but it might as well be the World Series for the Young family.
When Jared stepped onto the field and had his first bat at historic Wrigley Field one could only imagine the emotion, the triumph, and the glory he felt.
Jared’s journey is now complete and he can be proud to know firsthand he knocked it out of the park.
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Welcome to the playoffs.
The Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners are not there yet but a check of the standings shows both teams have over a 98 % chance of getting in.
The Jays have only been to the playoffs in eight of their 45 seasons and have not won a playoff series in six years.
While Toronto has two World Series titles (although it goes back close to 30 years in 1992 and 93) the success of the Mariners has been futile in comparison.
It has been 21 years, dating back to 2001 since Seattle last appeared in the postseason and they have only made the playoffs in four of their 45 seasons.
The addition of an extra team this year going from five to six qualifiers has been a boost.
Without it, one of them may not have made it.
After Thursday’s games, Toronto (81-63), Seattle (80-62), and Tampa Bay (80-63) are the three AL wild card teams and they are separated by just half a game.
Baltimore is next in line but time is running out of the Orioles (75-67) who are 4 1/2 back of the Rays and five behind the Jays and Mariners.
With just three weekends remaining, there is not much drama which would not have been the case had the extra team not been added this year.
With Toronto being the only Canadian team and Seattle being the closest in terms of travel to Prince George, one would assume these are the most followed teams in most of BC.
You may be curious to know how the playoff format works as the sudden death elimination game in round one is gone.
Instead, Team 3 will play Team 6, and Team 4 battles Team 5 in a best-of-three series with the winners advancing to the best of five league semifinals against seeds 1 & 2.
The American and National League Championship Series will remain a best of seven.
All the details on the new format can be found right here.
What do you think about the new MLB playoff format? pic.twitter.com/2lo6kcvy8c
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) June 22, 2022
Whoever makes the World Series will be playing into November.
Don’t expect the Jays and Mariners to make it that far, but they have given their fans a meaningful season and when there is hope in the fall, there’s always a chance even for the long shots.
Podcast:
In this week’s Cat Scan podcast, hear from the new play-by-play broadcaster of the Prince George Cougars, Cole Waldie.
Topics include:
–With Cole being from Prince George, is this his dream job?
–His gradual rise through the ranks including stints in U-18 and the BCHL
–Differences in the job scope with the Cougars and his former team, the PG Spruce Kings
–His thoughts going back to an in-person post-game show again
–Preparation as a broadcast
–His desire to go to the next level with the ultimate being the NHL.
CAT SCAN: @Hartley_Miller sits down with the new voice of the @PGCougars @colewaldiepxp in this week’s episode | #cityofpg https://t.co/RWHTwpZl9q #PrinceGeorge #northernbc #sports pic.twitter.com/DotSbe73Gm
— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) September 15, 2022
FROM THE QUOTE RACK:
Buffalo’s Dawson Knox became one of the highest-paid tight ends in the NFL, agreeing to a four-year extension for $53.6 million — $31 million guaranteed; or as he’s now known around the Bills’ locker room, Fort Knox.
*Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times http://www.seattletimes.com/author/dwight-perry/
The Congressional Women’s softball team had its first win in years in the annual game in Washington DC against the press team. So what’s next? The Washington Nationals? But this year the Nats might be an easier opponent.
*Comedy writer Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com
When Sylvester Stallone found out what Jennifer Flavin was seeking in their divorce proceedings, he went from the Eye of the Tiger to the Eye of the Bug About to Hit the Windshield.
*Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California
In Case You Missed It:
Charles just became the new King. No, not that British guy; Carlos (Charles in English) Alcaraz became the top-ranked male tennis player by winning the US Open.
*Western Canadian comedy writer RJ Currie www.Sportsdeke.com
Hartley Miller is the news and sports director/supervisor plus morning news anchor for 94.3 the GOAT and Country 97fm. He is entering his 10th season as the radio colour commentator for P.G. Cougars’ home games. Hartley has been on the Prince George airwaves since 1979 and is the author of You Don’t Say (sports quotes).