Brandon Young Bio
Brandon Wayne Young is an American professional baseball pitcher who currently plays for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball. Born on August 19, 1998, Young developed his skills through a standout high school career at Lumberton High School in Texas before advancing through the college baseball ranks. He signed with the Baltimore Orioles as an undrafted free agent in June 2020 and worked his way through their minor league system before making his highly anticipated MLB debut in April 2025. Young quickly made Orioles history by throwing an immaculate inning against the New York Mets during his rookie season.
Early Life and Background
Brandon Young grew up in Lumberton, Texas, where he attended Lumberton High School and graduated in 2016. During his high school years, Young established himself as a talented pitcher, setting the foundation for his future baseball career. His performance on the mound caught the attention of college scouts and paved the way for his transition to collegiate baseball at the next level.
Path to Professional Baseball
After graduating from Lumberton High School, Young continued his baseball career at the collegiate level. He played two seasons for Howard College before transferring to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where he spent two additional seasons suiting up for the Ragin’ Cajuns. His collegiate career provided him with valuable experience against strong competition and helped refine his pitching repertoire. Following his collegiate career, Young pursued professional opportunities and ultimately signed with the Baltimore Orioles as an undrafted free agent on June 14, 2020.
Brandon Young Career
Minor League Development (2020–2024)
Young began his professional journey with the Baltimore Orioles organization in 2020, though he did not appear in any games that season due to the cancellation of the minor league schedule caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. He returned to action in 2021 with the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds and later earned a promotion to High-A Aberdeen IronBirds. Across 23 appearances totaling 20 starts between both affiliates, Young posted a 4-3 record with a 3.52 earned run average and 114 strikeouts over 84 and one-third innings pitched.
The 2022 season presented challenges when Young made just three starts for the Double-A Bowie Baysox before undergoing Tommy John surgery, which forced him to miss the remainder of the campaign. He returned in 2023, appearing across four different affiliates including the rookie-level Florida Complex League Orioles, Delmarva, Aberdeen, and Bowie. In 11 total starts, Young struggled to find his rhythm, recording an 0-5 mark with a 4.50 ERA and 40 strikeouts over 40 innings.
Breakthrough Season (2024)
Young experienced a significant turnaround in 2024, splitting the season between Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk. He appeared in 27 games with 24 starts, compiling a 5-6 record and an impressive 3.57 ERA while recording 132 strikeouts across 111 innings pitched. His outstanding performance earned him recognition as the Baltimore Orioles’ minor league pitcher of the year. Following the regular season, the Orioles added Young to their 40-man roster on November 19, 2024, protecting him from the Rule 5 draft and signaling their confidence in his potential.
Baltimore Orioles Era (2025–Present)
Young began the 2025 season with Triple-A Norfolk but did not remain there long. On April 19, 2025, the Orioles promoted Young to the major leagues for the first time in his career. He made his MLB debut that afternoon as the starting pitcher in a home game against the Cincinnati Reds, allowing three runs over four innings in a game the Orioles won 9-5. The debut marked the culmination of his journey from undrafted free agent to big league pitcher.
Young continued to make headlines throughout his rookie campaign. On July 8, 2025, he threw an immaculate inning against the New York Mets, striking out Jesse Winker, Jeff McNeil, and Luis Torrens on nine pitches. He became just the fourth player in Orioles franchise history to accomplish this feat and the first since Kevin Gausman in 2018. On August 15, 2025, Young earned his first major league win while flirting with baseball immortality. He carried a perfect game bid through seven and two-thirds innings against the Houston Astros, matching the longest perfect game bid in Orioles history since Mike Mussina in 1998. His bid was broken up by an infield single from former teammate Ramon Urias, who had been traded to Houston two weeks earlier. Young finished the game having pitched eight scoreless innings with just one hit allowed and no walks. Unfortunately, his season ended prematurely when he strained his left hamstring while covering first base in a game against Houston on August 22. He was transferred to the 60-day injured list on August 27. In 12 starts during his rookie season, Young posted a 1-7 record with a 6.24 ERA and 47 strikeouts.
The 2026 season saw Young return to the organization as he was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk to begin the year. He received a mid-season call-up on April 6 after Dietrich Enns was placed on the 15-day injured list with a foot infection. Young started that night’s game against the Chicago White Sox before being sent back down the following day. Through June 21, 2026, he had compiled a 7-9 win-loss record with a 4.54 ERA and 96 strikeouts across his MLB career.
Driving Style and Pitching Approach
Young has developed into a versatile starting pitcher capable of working deep into games. His minor league track record demonstrated his ability to miss bats, particularly during his standout 2024 season when he averaged roughly one strikeout per inning. His durability was tested by the Tommy John surgery he underwent in 2022, but he returned stronger and eventually earned recognition as his organization’s top minor league pitcher. The immaculate inning he threw against the Mets showcased his ability to finish batters with elite-level stuff.
Notable Events and Milestones
Young’s rookie season featured several memorable moments that established him as a noteworthy young arm in the Orioles rotation. His immaculate inning on July 8, 2025, placed him in rarefied air among franchise legends. The near-perfect game on August 15, 2025, demonstrated his potential as an elite starting pitcher capable of dominating lineups. Though his season ended early due to injury, those performances provided a glimpse of the talent that earned him minor league pitcher of the year honors in 2024.
Brandon Young Career Wins
Young has accumulated professional wins across both minor and major league levels throughout his career. His professional journey includes successful campaigns in the minor leagues before his MLB debut and subsequent major league victories with the Baltimore Orioles.
Major League Baseball Highlights
Through June 21, 2026, Young has recorded a 7-9 win-loss record with a 4.54 earned run average and 96 strikeouts across his MLB career with the Baltimore Orioles. His first career win came on August 15, 2025, against the Houston Astros in a dominant eight-inning performance. He has demonstrated the ability to work as a starting pitcher and has shown flashes of elite-level stuff, including the immaculate inning that highlighted his rookie season.
Minor League Highlights
Young enjoyed considerable success in the minor leagues before reaching the majors. His standout season came in 2024 with Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk, where he went 5-6 with a 3.57 ERA and 132 strikeouts in 111 innings. He earned Baltimore Orioles minor league pitcher of the year honors following that campaign. Earlier in 2021, he posted a 4-3 record with a 3.52 ERA and 114 strikeouts across two Single-A and High-A affiliates.
| Competition Level | Wins | Losses | ERA | Strikeouts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLB (2025–2026) | 7 | 9 | 4.54 | 96 |
| Minor League (2021–2024) | 9 | 14 | 3.72 | 286 |
Brandon Young Family
Family Background
Specific details about Brandon Young’s family background, including his parents and any family connections to baseball, are not extensively documented in available public sources. He grew up in Lumberton, Texas, where he attended Lumberton High School and developed his baseball skills before embarking on his collegiate and professional career.
Personal Life
Brandon Young has maintained a relatively private personal life away from the baseball diamond. The Lumberton native has focused primarily on his development as a pitcher since signing with the Orioles organization. Information regarding his marital status, spouse, or children is not publicly available. He continues to work toward establishing himself as a reliable contributor within the Orioles pitching staff.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked Young’s rookie campaign in Major League Baseball and proved to be a mix of impressive moments and inevitable growing pains. The Baltimore Orioles called him up from Triple-A Norfolk on April 19, and he immediately made an impact by making his MLB debut that same afternoon. While his numbers showed inconsistency with a 1-7 record and 6.24 ERA across 12 starts, the quality of his performances often exceeded what his statistics suggested.
The highlight of his season came on August 15 against the Houston Astros when he pitched eight dominant innings in his first career win. He nearly completed a perfect game before a former teammate broke up the bid with an infield single. That game showcased his ceiling as an elite starting pitcher. The immaculate inning he threw against the Mets on July 8 demonstrated his ability to dominate hitters when his stuff was working. Unfortunately, his season ended on August 22 when he suffered a strained left hamstring while covering first base, an injury that required him to be placed on the 60-day injured list. Despite the premature end to his debut season, Young showed enough promise to remain a key part of the Orioles’ future plans.