He’s just 29, led the National League in stolen bases two years ago, and had five triples and 30 steals in 316 plate appearances last season with the Mets. So it’s not as if Eric Young Jr. is some broken-down veteran on a minor league contract trying to earn a roster spot.
Ok, so he is a veteran on a minor league contract. And he is trying to earn a job.
But he’s not broken down. Not by any stretch of the imagination.
Young had a two-run homer off Tanner Roark in the Braves’ 2-1 Grapefruit League win against the Nationals on Monday. He also picked up his third stolen base in four games and made a strong throw, presumably solidifying his early-spring lead in the race for the Braves’ opening-day center field job.
“Coming in on a minor league deal might be the chip on his shoulder that he needed,” said Braves left fielder Jonny Gomes, who has worked out with Young for four offseasons in the Phoenix area where they live. “It’s a good reality check. It happens quick in this game.
“He’s hitting the ground running, just like I’m sure he wanted to.”
On Jan. 21, Gomes signed a one-year, $4 million contract that included a $3 million option for 2016. About three weeks later, Young signed a minor league contract that included an invitation to spring training.
Asked about having a minor league contract, Young said, “I know what I can do for a team. I know which level I should be on, and all I can do is go out there and play. I’ll let everything else, the things I can’t control, I’ll let those guys decide it.”
When Young signed, it was expected he would compete with Zoilo Almonte and others for a bench job and possible platoon duties in left field, where Gomes might not face a lot of right-handers. Young’s leadoff experience and speed were his big pluses, but he wasn’t a proven center fielder and it wasn’t clear whether he’d be the best fit as a backup.
After center fielder Melvin Upton Jr. suffered a foot injury the first week of camp that could sideline him at least the first month of the season, the Braves suddenly had a need for a starting center fielder. And they need a leadoff hitter, particularly since the big-ticket winter signee, right fielder Nick Markais, is probably best suited lower in the order, and anyway is recovering from December neck surgery and not a certainty for opening day.
Enter Young, who was determined to show the Braves he could make himself into a center fielder, like he did as a left fielder after converting from second base early in his career.
So far, he’s more than held his own in the center-field competition with Todd Cunningham and Eury Perez. Young has used his speed to get to balls in the gaps or at the warning track, and made a couple of spectacular diving catches.
“He’s played OK in center field,” manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “His speed catches up (with fly balls). He’s still not polished in center field, but (coach) Bo (Porter) works with him a lot. I think the more you run him out there, the more we’re going to be comfortable with him. He’s going to be fine. He’s an athlete.”
At the plate, Young is 2-for-11, but also has three walks, a hit-by-pitch, a .400 on-base percentage, and one-third of the team’s nine stolen bases. Plus, the decisive two-run homer Monday off Roark, a right-hander.
“He’s got enough juice to do that,” Gonzalez said. “He plays a little man’s game, but I guess it was a pitch left out over the middle of the plate, and he squared it up pretty good.”
Gomes said of Young’s greatest strength: “Speed doesn’t slump, that’s known in this game. And they sneak one in(side), buggy-whip it out of the ballpark – that (power) is good to have in your back pocket as well.”
Young laughed when told what Gomes had said about home run pulled to right field.
“I’ll take it,” Young said. “Just trying to stay with the approach that me and Seitz been working on, just getting focused on seeing the ball and making good contact. Just a bonus that it got out today.”
