Jared Young鈥檚 lifelong baseball dream is a step closer to reality.
The former Okanagan Athletics鈥� infielder was chosen by the Chicago Cubs in the 15th round鈥�465th overall鈥攊n last week鈥檚 Major League Baseball draft.
Young, who played this season at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, is excited to get his pro career underway.
鈥淚t鈥檚 fantastic, honestly,鈥� said Young. 鈥淭o be drafted by an organization like the Cubs, the defending World Series champs, I couldn鈥檛 ask for anything better.鈥�
Young moved from his native Prince George to 琉璃神社 in high school where he played two seasons with the A鈥檚, before graduating from KSS and the B.C. Premier Baseball League in 2014.
After two seasons of junior college ball, split between North Dakota and Oklahoma, Young jumped to the NCAA Div. 1 level last fall at Old Dominion and made an immediate impact.
The 21-year-old this season with a .367 average and was named an All-American at second base.
The path Young鈥檚 baseball career has taken aligns precisely with what he hoped and trusted would happen.
鈥淚 always believed I had a chance (to play pro), I think I convinced myself of that pretty early and I was going to do whatever I had to,鈥� said Young. 鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty exciting to be getting it all started. I鈥檓 just going to take it as it comes and try make the most of it.鈥�
Young鈥檚 success to date comes as no surprise to Okanagan Athletics head coach Evan Bailey. Between Young鈥檚 natural abilities, strength of character and passion for the game, Bailey believes he has all the tools to thrive at the professional level.
鈥淭he way I describe it is, Jared could wake up, get out of bed and be the best hitter out there,鈥� said Bailey. 鈥淏ut one of the greatest things about him is that he鈥檚 a great person, too.
鈥淭he character qualities he has come into play in that he鈥檚 built for the grind of the minor leagues, he loves every day he鈥檚 out there, and he brings the long hours and hard work along with it,鈥� added Bailey. 鈥淗e鈥檚 a stand-up guy, very resilient and I believe he鈥檒l take himself really far in the game.鈥�
Young will leave Sunday for Mesa, Arizona where he鈥檒l report to the Cubs. He鈥檒l then transfer to Eugene, Oregon where he鈥檒l play this summer for Chicago鈥檚 class A affiliate club.
