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Back in the major leagues for the second time after a short stint with the Chicago Cubs last September, Jared Young is confident he is ready to contribute to a team hoping to contend for a division title.
“I’d say it’s a different feeling this time,” Young said. “There’s a little bit more of a sense to win right now and a sense to help the team the way that I know I can. It feels like the right spot for me and it’s one of those things where I just want to keep going.”
After hitting his first career home run in his first major league at-bat of the season Wednesday, Young was back in the starting lineup for Thursday’s series finale with the Philadelphia Phillies, playing first base and batting eighth as the Cubs tried to avoid a three-game sweep.
Wednesday’s third-inning homer, which Young hit to right-center field off Aaron Nola, took a bit of the weight off the shoulders of the 27-year-old Young.
“It was nice,” Young said before Thursday’s game. “It was good to get that one out of the way. I wish I could have come through a little bit better in the second at-bat in a big part of the game, but that’s baseball.”
Young grounded sharply into an inning-ending double play with two runners on in the fourth in his second and final at-bat Wednesday.
The home run, though, was a special moment for Young and his longtime friend, second baseman Nico Hoerner.
Hoerner said he was so ecstatic when the ball sailed into the bleachers that he lost track of when he was supposed to bat.
“(Young) was hitting eighth and I was hitting second,” Hoerner said. “I’m kind of used to leading off so when he hit the homer, I went running out — partly to give him a high five and partly to go on-deck. I was totally skipping (Mike) Tauchman and ignoring the order.
“Tauchman was like, ‘You’re not on-deck yet.’ I was just so excited and ran out there.”
Young and Hoerner were roommates when they played for the Double-A Tennessee Smokies in 2019.
“Nico is one of my best friends, for sure,” Young said. “It’s really special to play on a big-league field with him. That’s not something you get to do with a lot of people. It’s definitely an honor and I hope to do it for a long time.”
Young, a native of Prince George, Canada, who was drafted by the Cubs out of Old Dominion in the 15th round of the 2017 MLB Draft, hit .263 (5-for-19) with two doubles, three walks, two runs and a stolen base in six games with the Cubs last September.
He hit .326 with 13 home runs and 45 RBIs in 52 games at Triple-A Iowa this season.
Cubs manager David Ross expects to use Young at first base and designated hitter as well as in pinch-hit situations.
Ross called first base a “pretty open spot.”
Matt Mervis was sent back down to Iowa on June 15 after going 15-for-90 at the plate with the Cubs. Cody Bellinger has played first the last two weeks since returning from a knee injury but was back in his customary spot in center field Thursday.
“We’re just trying to mix and match (at first), to be honest, and couple good defense with who’s swinging the bat well,” Ross said. “Nobody’s really grabbed that thing, offensively or defensively. (Bellinger) has filled that role nicely coming back after Mervis got sent back down.
“(Young) has played a lot over there and has been pretty smooth. We’re going to give him some run. He’s swinging the bat really well.”
While Mervis certainly figures to be at the center of the Cubs’ long-term plans at first base, Ross said he was excited to see what others such as Young can do at that spot.
“Certain guys get opportunities and they make the most of them,” Ross said. “Sometimes you don’t get a chance to look back and they just kind of run with it. Who knows who that guy is and when that is?
“I know we think highly of Matt Mervis and how fast he’s put himself on the map. I also know there are guys up here who can perform if they continue to get the opportunity.”
Bellinger’s move back to center was brought on, in part, by Seiya Suzuki’s absence from the lineup for a second day due to a stiff neck, which Ross said was “a little bit better” Thursday.
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Tauchman moved to right field with Suzuki out.
Cubs starter Marcus Stroman, who left Sunday’s game in London with a blister on his right index finger, was expected to throw a bullpen session Thursday.
If all goes well, Stroman will start Saturday against the Cleveland Guardians, with Justin Steele and Jameson Taillon slated for Friday and Sunday, respectively.
Young, meanwhile, is hoping to give the Cubs’ lineup some left-handed thump and continue to earn more playing time.
Hoerner is happy to see him get that shot.
“Like so many people in baseball, he has not had a linear path to getting here,” Hoerner said. “Everyone’s got their own story and his is awesome. I think he’s a guy who can really help this team and have a great career for himself.”
Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.
