Chesny Young Gets the Call to Myrtle Beach

This weekend I had planned on doing a nice profile on one of my favorite Cub prospects, Chesny Young of low-A South Bend. That all changed when news broke that Young was being promoted from South Bend to high A Myrtle Beach.

Young, a right-handed-hitting second baseman, was drafted last summer in the 14th round out of Mercer University. He advanced quickly from the Arizona Rookie League to Boise, then to Kane County where he finished the season with a Midwest League Championship. Across the 3 levels, he hit .327 on the year with a solid .384 OBP.

I saw Young play several times for Kane County last August. He just reeks of baseball. He is not the most athletic or physically gifted young man on the diamond, but he gets the job done in the field, has a solid arm, knows situational strategy, and has a great eye at the plate. He will never hit for power, but he will hit, and he will hit a lot.

I was surprised to see him at South Bend to begin the year, mainly due to his advanced hit tool and feel for the strike zone. Every time he hits the ball, he hits it hard. He did not have many bloops but rather a lot of liners.

In 2015 at South Bend, Young showed what he can do hitting second in the order to begin the year, and in late April he moved down one slot to hit behind Gleyber Torres. Young’s .315 average and .385 OBP were near the top of the team and his nine stolen bases lead the team.

Young, known as a baseball rat and a grinder, will do well in Myrtle Beach. He reminds me a lot of his new teammate, Mark Zagunis, in his approach to the game. They both are guys who aren’t afraid to get dirty and to do what it takes to win.

Here is a very nice interview Young did a few weeks ago with Steve Krahl of The Elkhart Truth. It details in his own words his approach and the attitude/makeup that has made him an organizational favorite.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVfTg5Q3Wvc

Young’s position on the team will be filled by David Bote and Jason Vossler who have both filled in at 2B, 1B, and 3B so far for the Cubs. Andrew Ely, who is in extended spring training, is another possibility once June gets here.