A Prince George baseball player is being rewarded for a stellar summer to remember.
Jared Young is being honoured by the Chicago Cubs as their 2018 Minor League Player of the Year, after putting up impressive numbers at only 23 years old.
After receiving the call from the Cubs this morning, the infielder says the surreal feeling instantly became motivation for next season.
“This will help me get stronger and I’m trying to control my body be little bit more. Then, I can take that into next year; you got another 140 games to play in the minor leagues and it’s about just being consistent and hoping to put up another good year.”
.@jaredyoung9 of #PrinceGeorge has been named the Chicago @Cubs Minor League Player of the Year | #CityOfPG #Sports https://t.co/BBNnsYfpMa
— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) September 18, 2018
Young hit a combined 16 home runs and 76 RBIs between the Single-A South Bend Cubs and Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans.
He posted a .300 batting percentage, including 19 doubles and eight triples, and was named an Midwest League All-Star mid-season.
Though he’s humbled to be named the top Cubbie in the minors, Young says there is one part of his game he looks to improve on for next year.
“My defense hasn’t always been a big aspect of my game, but I have been working on it the last couple years. I think it’s been able to help keep me in the lineup a little bit more and then obviously, the more you play, the more chances you have.”
Young also earned back-to-back Cubs’ Minor League Player of the Month for both July and August.
He and his family will be flown out to Wrigley Field in Chicago for a special ceremony next Thursday, September 27th ahead of the Cubs’ game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
✌️ of the best!
Congrats to @mattswarmer??, the @Cubs‘ Minor League Pitcher of the Year, and @jaredyoung9??, the organization’s Minor League Player of the Year!
??⚾️??
MORE ➡️ https://t.co/QhuCain4yA pic.twitter.com/y2vah9j4O8
— Myrtle Beach Pelicans (@Pelicanbaseball) September 18, 2018