Ramón Laureano was set to have a day off on April 19 with the Orioles facing right-hander Hunter Greene. The 30-year-old right-handed hitter has been the primary platoon partner for Heston Kjerstad recently.
But Kjerstad was hit by a 99.5 mph fastball on his right elbow in his first at-bat and exited the game in favor of Laureano in the top of the third. Laureano rewarded manager Brandon Hyde with his best game in a Baltimore uniform.
He slugged two home runs — both off right-handed pitchers — and led a five-homer effort in Brandon Young’s big league debut as the Orioles topped the Reds at home, 9-5. The win improved Baltimore to 9-11 and forced a Sunday rubber match.
Laureano has now hit all three of his home runs against right-handers despite being signed in the offseason primarily to face lefties. But he may receive more playing time in the foreseeable future with left field in flux. Colton Cowser suffered a left-thumb injury in the first series of the year, which will sideline him until late May or early June. Now, Kjerstad’s status is uncertain. Hyde said postgame that X-rays came back negative and Kjerstad is a “little sore.”
“Just show up, be ready,” Laureano said.
Young received the call-up after three starts for the Tides this year and turned in a shaky outing against the Reds. He allowed three runs in four-plus innings, exiting after walking the leadoff man in the top of the fifth.
“I thought he was solid,” Hyde said. “Stuff was good. First start in the big leagues, that’s never easy … just had a tough time keeping guys off balance.”
The Reds totaled 10 baserunners against Young, including eight in the first inning and a third as the right-hander struggled to put away hitters early.
Gavin Lux brought home Cincinnati’s first run on a single off an 0-2 fastball. Two batters after Jake Fraley clubbed a solo home run off a changeup onto Eutaw Street, Jose Trevino roped a 3-2 cutter down the left field line with one out in the top of the second. Trevino later scored when TJ Friedl lined an 0-2 middle-middle changeup to right.
Young notched his first career strikeout one at-bat later. The punchout of Matt McLain allowed Young to settle in. The only baserunner the hurler allowed between then and the end of the fourth inning was a Fraley walk. A Trevino double play erased the free pass.
While at least one Reds hitter reached base in all but one of Young’s innings, he limited the damage overall.
“Wasn’t what I intended for, but it’s the first time out there [in a major] league stadium,” Young said. “I think just continue to grow from here.”
Young’s path to the major leagues was taxing.
The Lumberton, Texas, native went undrafted out of Louisiana-Lafayette in the pandemic-shortened 2020 MLB Draft, signing with the Orioles afterward.
Young gradually moved the ranks of Baltimore’s farm system, but he suffered an elbow injury just three starts into his 2022 season and needed Tommy John surgery. He returned to pitch sparingly in 2023 before breaking through for Norfolk last season.
The 6-foot-6, 210-pound right-hander moved up from Double-A Bowie to Norfolk in late May and immediately shined for the Tides. He went 5-4 with a 3.44 ERA in 20 outings (18 starts) and averaged better than a strikeout per inning.
The success earned Young the organization’s Jim Palmer Minor League Pitcher of the Year award. Young was added to the 40-man roster shortly after.
Young received the call-up to the big leagues with injuries hitting the Orioles’ starting rotation. Zach Eflin was the latest starter placed on the injured list after exiting his April 7 start with a right lat strain.
Young is the first homegrown pitcher since Mike Elias took over as general manager to make his big league debut for Baltimore. Excluding international free agent signees, the 26-year-old became the oldest Orioles starting pitcher to debut since Chris Waters in 2008.
Charlie Morton, who made his debut with the Braves in that season at 24 years of age, said he’s proof that age doesn’t necessarily matter for projecting a career.
“I didn’t hit my stride until I was 33, 34, he’s still got another seven, eight years to get to that age,” Morton said. “It’s just about what you can do with the baseball. And then hope that the organizations, the teams that you’re with, you have enough people in your corner that give you chances.”
Morton said he was able to pick up on good vibes from Young as soon as he met him in spring training, when Young made three Grapefruit League appearances. Morton, who joined the Orioles in the offseason on a one-year, $15 million contract, said his priority in the spring was to get to know his newest teammates.
Then, Morton’s takeaway on Young was clear. It still hasn’t changed.
“The kind of guy that’s easy to root for,” the 41-year-old said.
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