Young embracing leadership role for Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The mentoring began right after the introductions.

Eric Young Jr. walked into the Orioles spring training clubhouse after agreeing to a minor league deal, sought out the younger players and began the balancing act of competing against them and offering his assistance.

This is the reputation that Young brought with him along with his equipment bag. One of the really good guys in baseball. A pure professional. A public relations staff's dream.

Young may not break camp with the team, but he's making an impact.

"I think just more so the little things that happen in a game," he said. "The raw talent is there. Now it's actually watching the game, knowing exactly what's going on in a game. The cat-and-mouse game that the pitcher could be playing with you. Setting the pitchers up or recognizing when they're trying to set you up. Things like that that go on during the game.

"It just comes with experience and watching the game and understanding what's going on during the game with you and your approach. I think sometimes where you're getting the results you want or not, you kind of read into that too much instead of paying attention to what's going on during the game as far as how pitchers are trying to set you up and how you can adjust from there."

This is the voice of experience, coming from a player who turns 34 in May and has played in the majors for parts of 10 seasons with five teams. Whose father lasted 15 seasons and taught him well.

"He definitely stepped up to take that role," said Cedric Mullins, whose major league resume consists of 45 games played last summer.

"He was one of the guys who immediately walked up to you as soon as he saw you. Just, 'Hey, how's your day going?' Wants to get a feel for the guys and how they carry themselves. Even on the field he's trying to take moments and he uses them as teaching moments.

"He's like, 'Hey, did you notice this on this pitcher?' Or, 'What situation are you looking for when you try to take this bag?' So I've been trying to use my aggressiveness out there as early as possible to get a feel for how I need to manage myself when I'm running the bases. And even in the outfield, just continue to communicate with guys. He's always looking at me, talking to me to make sure that I have everyone else in line."

The lessons aren't restricted to the diamond. Young can offer life advice. How to handle the smallest details and biggest hardships.

This is a man who stood up in front of his new Angels teammates in spring training 2017 and spoke openly and honestly about losing his infant son, born three months premature, only a few days after signing his contract. Inviting them to ask about his loss or anything else on their minds.

"It's a long season. A lot of things can happen off the field as well as on the field," he said. "How you come in each day with the same mindset, the same approach to being ready to play each and every night. Even dealing with things that can occur off the field, you've still got to come in and be a professional and do your job. Those things I know I can help with as well. Just make sure to keep focused and keep the right mindset.

"I've experienced some things off the field that could potentially affect you on the field, but still being able to separate the two and being able to go out there and do your job for your teammates."

Including the young ones who could push him off the roster. Maybe out of the organization.

"They're looking good so far," Young said. "A lot of guys are hungry and I think a lot of potential there for them. The sky's the limit, obviously with more work and more experience. Right now it's more about game experience, but so far looking good and now it's just a matter of putting it together for a whole season.

"We've only been here for a couple weeks. But the tools are there, so that's not a doubt in my mind. They're going to be great ballplayers."