Jared Young Bio
Jared Michael Young, born July 9, 1995, is a Canadian professional baseball utility player for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Chicago Cubs and in the KBO League for the Doosan Bears. He made his MLB debut in 2022.
A versatile defender who can play several positions and handle a bat from the left side of the plate, Young traveled a long road through the minor leagues and overseas before settling in as a depth option in the majors. He continues to provide the Mets with lineup flexibility and bench support.
Early Life and Background
Young grew up in British Columbia, attending Prince George Secondary School in Prince George and later Kelowna Secondary School in Kelowna. Those secondary school years gave him his earliest organized baseball experience in Canada and helped him develop the switch-hitting, multi-position profile that scouts would later covet.
After finishing high school, Young moved south to begin his college career at Minot State University, where he played his freshman year. He hit .398 with five home runs and 35 runs batted in for the Beavers, earning all-conference second-team honors.
Looking for a higher level of competition, Young transferred to Connors State College for his sophomore season. He produced a dominant .480 batting average with 11 home runs and 54 runs batted in, establishing himself as one of the top junior college hitters in the country.
Path to Baseball
Following Connors State, Young continued his development at Old Dominion University, where he played college baseball for the Monarchs. He hit .367 with seven home runs and 34 runs batted in, and his performance earned him ABCA/Rawlings All-American Third Team honors.
That college resume put him on the professional radar. In the 2017 MLB draft, the Chicago Cubs selected Young in the 15th round with the 465th overall pick, beginning his path through the minor leagues.
Jared Young Career
Early Career (2017–2019)
Young opened his professional career in 2017 with the Eugene Emeralds, where he hit .257 with one home run and 15 runs batted in. The next year, he split the season between the South Bend Cubs and the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, combining to hit .300 with 16 home runs and 76 runs batted in, a performance that earned him the Cubs’ 2018 Minor League Player of the Year award.
He advanced to the Tennessee Smokies in 2019, hitting .235 with five home runs and 47 runs batted in, and later joined the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League. The 2020 minor league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, costing Young a full year of development.
Chicago Cubs Breakthrough (2021–2023)
Young returned in 2021, splitting the year between Tennessee and the Triple-A Iowa Cubs and slashing .290 with nine home runs and 40 runs batted in. He spent most of 2022 at Iowa, appearing in 109 games and hitting .230 with 17 home runs and 59 runs batted in.
On September 14, 2022, Chicago selected Young’s contract from Triple-A Iowa, and he made his MLB debut two days later against the Colorado Rockies. He collected his first career hit in that game, a double off Justin Lawrence. He returned to Iowa briefly in 2023 before being recalled in June, going on to hit .186 with two home runs in 16 big league games for the Cubs.
St. Louis Cardinals and Doosan Bears (2023–2024)
On November 6, 2023, Young was claimed off waivers by the St. Louis Cardinals and optioned to the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds. In 74 games for Memphis, he batted .285 with 11 home runs, 35 runs batted in, and six stolen bases.
Seeking a fresh start, Young signed a $300,000 contract with the Doosan Bears of the KBO League on July 23, 2024. He made an immediate impact, going 5-for-6 with two home runs and eight runs batted in during a 30-6 victory over the Kia Tigers on July 31, tying the KBO record for most runs batted in in a game by a foreign player. He finished the KBO season batting .326 with 10 home runs and 39 runs batted in over 38 games.
New York Mets Era (2025–Present)
On December 16, 2024, Young signed a one-year, major league contract with the New York Mets. He was optioned to the Triple-A Syracuse Mets to begin the 2025 season before being selected to the big league roster on May 24, 2025. On June 15, 2025, he pitched in a Major League game for the first time, allowing one hit in a third of an inning in a blowout loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. He bounced between Syracuse and New York through July.
On April 15, 2026, the Mets announced that Young would require surgery to repair a meniscus tear in his left knee.
Driving Style and Strengths
Young is valued as a true utility player, capable of handling multiple defensive positions while providing left-handed batting depth. His profile combines line-drive hitting, on-base skills, and the versatility to fill in around the diamond or even take the mound in an emergency, giving managers a flexible roster piece.
Notable Events and Milestones
His first MLB hit, a double off Justin Lawrence in his 2022 debut, and his record-tying eight-RBI game in the KBO League stand out as signature moments. Being named the Cubs’ 2018 Minor League Player of the Year was another early milestone.
Jared Young Career Wins
Across his professional career, Young has collected milestone victories at every level, from junior college dominance at Connors State to minor league recognition with the Cubs system, an MLB debut hit, and a record-tying performance in South Korea.
Minor League Highlights
His 2018 campaign across South Bend and Myrtle Beach produced a combined .300 average with 16 home runs, earning him Cubs Minor League Player of the Year honors. In 2021 and 2022 at Iowa, he continued to produce power numbers, including 17 home runs in 2022. His 2023 stint at Iowa was his most productive Triple-A stretch, hitting .326 with 13 home runs in just 52 games.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond the minors, Young’s record-tying eight-RBI outburst for the Doosan Bears and his 2025 MLB pitching appearance with the Mets mark his most unusual career highlights.
Jared Young Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public details about Young’s immediate family are limited. He grew up in British Columbia and came through Canadian secondary schools before moving to the United States for college baseball.
Personal Life
Young keeps his personal life private. No public information about a spouse or children is available at this time.
2025 Season Performance
Young’s 2025 season with the Mets centered on a Triple-A shuttle role with Syracuse. After being added to the big league roster on May 24, he provided positional flexibility and a left-handed bat off the bench. His June 15 appearance on the mound against Tampa Bay became one of the season’s quirky storylines, showing the kind of versatility the Mets value in a utility player.
Throughout the summer, Young moved back and forth between Syracuse and New York, giving the Mets cover at multiple positions. His bat and glove work at the big league level offered the club a steady depth option, even as his playing time fluctuated.
Looking ahead, Young remained under contract with the Mets as the 2025 campaign progressed, with the organization viewing him as a multi-positional piece and a candidate for an expanded bench role. The meniscus surgery announced in April 2026 was expected to sideline him for part of that season.
