Song remains the same for Young - another solid outing

SARASOTA, Fla. – Brandon Young will get noticed in any clubhouse for his height and long brown hair. He isn’t a lock to make the team, but man, those locks …

Young is expected to begin the season at Triple-A Norfolk, but his first outing Sunday in his first major league camp teased just how good he can be in 2025. He tossed two scoreless innings against the Phillies in Clearwater, retiring the side in order in the fifth. Back-to-back singles in the fourth, the initial one only 79.3 mph off the bat, were followed by a double play.

Both strikeouts were called, on 95.5 and 95.1 mph fastballs to Edmundo Sosa and Christian Arroyo, respectively.

“I was pleased for sure,” Young said. “First big league spring training game, it was just good to be out there.”

Young used his cutter, curveball and changeup – no sliders Sunday – but most impressive was how he averaged 95 mph with his four-seamer and topped out at 97. It sat around 92-93 mph last season with a high of 96, per Statcast.

“Not really that surprised,” Young said of the bump in velocity. “I just felt good and felt loose. I had a good, healthy offseason and it was good to see it up there for sure.

“I really wasn’t focusing on it. It would be nice if it stayed there throughout the year. We’ll see if it does. But like I said, felt good, had a healthy offseason and feel fresh coming in.”

Results might not matter for Young since the rotation is full and left-hander Cade Povich is ahead of him. Povich tossed two scoreless and hitless innings while starting Sunday. But Young is an intriguing prospect, ranked 20^th by Baseball America after the Orioles protected him in the Rule 5 draft. He was “on the radar” last summer, per executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias, a tremendous compliment for an undrafted free agent in 2020 – the pandemic shortened it to five rounds and left Young without a team – who missed most of 2022 with an elbow injury.

Surgery delayed Young’s first game in 2023 until July, but it’s a big arm on a 6 foot 6 pitcher who averages 10.7 strikeouts and 0.9 home runs per nine innings.

That same arm can be a conversation starter beyond what it does on the mound.

Tattoos run down the back of it that, upon closer inspection, are the four symbols featured on the untitled fourth album from the legendary rock band Led Zeppelin. A band formed in London in 1968 that broke up in 1980 after the death of drummer John Bonham.

Young is 26. It’s doubtful that many of his teammates can appreciate his fandom or the ink artwork of Zoso, the circle over three interlocking ovals, the three interlocking circles and the circle around the feather of Ma’at.

“My favorite band,” Young said.

That explains most of it. But how?

“I think just growing up with my dad, we always listened to some old classic rock stuff – Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd," he said. "That’s kind of my favorite genre for sure.”

The guy has a good pitch mix and outstanding musical taste.

“Every album just rocks. Every album’s a little different,” he said. “I think I got those (tattoos) right after college.”

Led Zeppelin II is his favorite, and “Bring it on Home” is his first choice on the play list. The Orioles need this information for Young’s major league debut, which could be coming later this year.

* Due to yesterday’s rainout, Charlie Morton will start today against the Tigers in Sarasota and Dean Kremer will pitch in relief. Kremer was supposed to start yesterday against the Braves.