Kyle Young stood above the competition on every field he was on. Literally, the 7’0 southpaw is the tallest player to play professional baseball and had dominated at St. Dominic HS in 2015-’16 prior to that. The southpaw was drafted out of HS in 2016 by the Philadelphia Phillies and has been terrific during his minor league career. He compiled a 2.92 ERA, 14-8 record, 166 Ks over 172.1 IP. Despite his long limbs, he displayed amazing control – walking just 27 batters and holding a 1.03 WHIP.
He has decided to walk away from baseball. MILB listed it on their minor league transactions on November 18.
When Kyle was entering his senior year of HS I wrote a feature story on him. I remember watching his first outing of his senior year in front of dozens of scouts at Cantiague Park, I remember when he was selected in the draft, the day he announced he was forgoing his scholarship to play pro ball and following the progression of his career. I was looking forward to him reaching the Major Leagues and every baseball fan marveling at how this 7’0 dude could still manage to throw strikes and control the running game. But I will not second-guess his decision to walk away from baseball – we never know what someone else is feeling and just because we may enjoy watching them play doesn’t mean they share that same level of motivation to play the game.
I had a chance to speak with him, and here’s what he had to say…
You had an outstanding run in pro baseball. Were you pleasantly surprised with how quickly you adjusted to pro ball?
I am happy with the way I competed in pro ball and the level I was able to play at. I always believed in myself so I wouldn’t necessarily say surprised, but I’m very happy with the way I adjusted to pro ball from the very beginning.
Who are some people you would like to credit for helping you progress in your career?
There are really too many people to give credit to, I’ve had a great support system throughout the years. First, it starts with my family always cheering me on, being my biggest fans and doing anything and everything to get me where I wanted to go. Every single coach I spent time with from t-ball to now shaped me into the player I became and there is just too many to list. Every one of them gave me something to keep me moving forward and I couldn’t be more thankful. I have a great group of friends that are always there for me and supported me through the ups and downs and helped me stay on track. Countless people helped me get to where I got, and I couldn’t be more grateful.
How difficult was the rehab from TJ? Was it more difficult from a mental or physical standpoint?
The rehab process form Tommy John was very tough both mentally and physically. I’m not sure if either side of it was difficult than the other – they both presented their challenges in different ways. I’m glad I had great people around me to help me get through that process.
Why did you decide to hang up your cleats? Was this a decision you debated for a while internally?
I decided to walk away because baseball kept causing me pain and the injuries took away the love of baseball I once had. Once that’s gone, it doesn’t feel worth it anymore. It was a very hard decision for me that didn’t just happen overnight, but knowing it’s the right thing for me physically and mentally, it’s something I had to do. The past few years were filled with mostly injuries and pain, and there really wasn’t a light at the end of the tunnel anymore to feeling healthy. I’m thankful for everyone around me that helped me through the process of walking away.
What would you like to pursue next?
I will be going back to school and pursuing a degree in the business/finance lane. I am very excited for the next chapter and seeing where life takes me next.
