The Tribune

CHAVEZ Young seeks to continue his efforts of giving back to the local Grand Bahamian baseball community during his offseason.

The standout prospect in the Toronto Blue Jays farm system will host the Chavez Young Baseball Camp, January 2-3 at the EMERA Baseball Complex in Grand Bahama.

Free admission to all participants, day one will host players aged 7-13 while day two will feature players ages 14 and older.

The event will feature appearances by fellow minor leaguers Bo Bichette, Joshua Palacios and Richard Palacios.

Bichette is listed as the No.2 prospect in the Blue Jays farm system. No stranger to the Bahamas, he was also the winner of the inaugural “Don’t Blink Home Run Derby” hosted at Montagu Bay in 2017.

Joshua Palacios spent last season as Bichette’s teammate with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats in the Double A Eastern League. Richard, the younger of the Palacios brothers, was a teammate of Todd Isaacs as a member of the Lake County Captains in the Class A Midwest League.

A number of professional coaches and trainers will also be available to lend their expertise to camp participants, including Matt Young, hitting coach with the Toronto Blue Jays, Chris Barnard of Overtime Athletes, and Chris Perez of Built Different Athletes.

Young previously hosted a two-day clinic last September with assistance from Pittsburgh Pirates minor leaguer Tahnaj Thomas and collegiate player Ashton Pratt.

Young’s standout season made such an impact on the Blue Jays organisation that the front office continues to recognise him as one of its rising stars.

Blue Jays General Manager Ross Atkins noted Young as one of the most impressive minor leaguers in the team’s farm system.

Atkins called Young “a prospect who doesn’t get talked about enough” following a season where he was the only player at any minor league level to compile 50 extra base hits and more than 40 stolen bases.

Young led the Lansing Lugnuts in batting average runs scored and stolen bases. It was a season of milestones for the 21-year-old outfielder as he was named a Midwest League All-Star.

In 125 games this season, Young hit .285 with 134 hits and 57 RBI. He also had an .808 OPS, slugged .445 with 44 stolen bases, 88 runs scored, 209 total bases, 33 doubles, nine triples and eight home runs.

Young finished tied for second in the Midwest league total bases, second in both doubles and triples, tied for third in stolen bases and his 134 hits ranked sixth.

Prospect analysis website FutureBlueJays.com ranked Young at No.8 among the Blue Jays prospects while the Lansing State Journal profiled the 21-year-old outfielder for his impact on the Lugnuts.

“You wouldn’t ordinarily expect much from a 39th round pick, but Young is truly proving to be a diamond in the rough. The Bahamian may have been behind his peers in terms of development when he made his pro debut two years ago, but he’s more than made up for that. Young has been a fixture atop Lansing’s order,” Future Blue Jays said. “Young has a simple set up at the plate, gets good plate coverage, and seldom chases. He can play all three outfield spots, and has been set loose on the basepaths this year.”

Defensively, playing in centre and right field, he totalled 15 outfield assists along with 290 putouts and a .984 fielding percentage.

“Coming from a late-round draft guy, I’ve just had to work for everything,” Young told the Lansing State Journal. “I never forget that this is my dream job. I always have got to have fun doing it, no matter where I’m at. I’ve got to be even-keeled through the bad days and the good days. I’ve got to stay on that even plane always and keep having fun. The hard work will pay off.”