Delmarva's Young a Single-A singles-hitting dynamo

At the beginning of the season, fluctuating batting averages are common. With minimal at-bats under players’ belts, one hit or out can change an average dramatically.

Now two months into the 2023 season, big jumps in average are reserved for those being promoted to a new level or rehabbing in a lower level. Carter Young, however, is neither rehabbing, nor has he been promoted, and yet he raised his batting average a whopping 43 points in the past two games.

The No. 28 Orioles prospect per MLB Pipeline has been on a tear over the past two games going a perfect 9-for-9, and if you go back to his final at-bat Friday, he has reached base in his past 10 plate appearances.

Going 9-for-9 is no easy feat. A stat line of that caliber is yet to reached by any MLB hitter this season, and in 2022, it only happened twice. The first to do it was Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena in May, and the most recent was Corey Dickerson in August as a member of the Cardinals.

Only 102 Major League batters since 2000 have gone 9-for-9 in a stretch.

In Single-A Delmarva’s 3-2 loss to the Down East Wood Ducks, the 22-year-old shortstop did his best impression of Miami Marlins infielder Luis Arraez, spraying the ball to all fields.

The former Vanderbilt Commodore played the role of table-setter in the first inning. Following a single by center fielder Elio Prado, Young smacked a line-drive single into center putting runners on first and second. Two batters later, right fielder Isaac Bellony emptied the bases with a triple, scoring the Shorebirds’ only two runs of the contest.

It was more of the same in Young’s next four at-bats, he finished 5-for-5 with five singles.

Two days prior, on June 4, Young’s day looked quite similar, he went 4-for-4, all singles. The Washington native still has a batting average of just .231 this season, but after going 9-for-9, you never know what’s on the horizon.