Brandon Young Bio
Brandon Wayne Young (born August 19, 1998) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball (MLB). A left-handed starter, Young made his MLB debut in 2025 after progressing through Baltimore’s minor league system. He is recognized for accomplishing a rare immaculate inning and for carrying a perfect game bid into the late innings of a 2025 start against the Houston Astros.
Young signed with the Orioles as an undrafted free agent in 2020 and steadily climbed the organization, earning a spot on the 40-man roster ahead of the 2025 season. His rapid rise, combined with flashes of dominance on the mound, has made him a notable young arm within the Baltimore pitching staff.
Early Life and Background
Brandon Wayne Young was born on August 19, 1998, and grew up in Lumberton, Texas, where he attended Lumberton High School. He graduated in 2016 and developed his pitching skills in the local high school baseball program. The Southeast Texas community provided an early foundation for his work ethic and approach to the game.
Following high school, Young continued his baseball career at the collegiate level. He spent two seasons playing for Howard College, a community college program known for developing baseball talent. He then transferred to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where he played two more seasons and refined his skills against top college competition. His progression through both junior college and a four-year university helped prepare him for the demands of professional baseball.
Path to Professional Baseball
Young’s transition to the professional ranks came in June 2020, when he signed with the Baltimore Orioles as an undrafted free agent. The signing took place during a uniquely challenging period, as the minor league season was later cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, Young did not appear in any official games during his first year in the organization.
He returned to competitive play in 2021, splitting his time between the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds and the High-A Aberdeen IronBirds. Across 23 appearances and 20 starts for the two affiliates, he recorded a 4-3 record and a 3.52 ERA, striking out 114 batters in 84 and 1/3 innings. The strong showing marked him as a prospect worth tracking within the Orioles’ developmental pipeline.
Brandon Young Career
Early Career (2021-2023)
Young’s first full professional season came in 2021, when he delivered a promising performance across two levels of the Orioles’ system. His combination of strikeout ability and innings management made him a name to watch in Baltimore’s lower minors.
In 2022, Young reached Double-A Bowie Baysox but made only three starts before undergoing Tommy John surgery, which forced him to miss the remainder of the season. He returned in 2023, working his way back across the rookie-level Florida Complex League Orioles, Delmarva, Aberdeen, and Bowie. In 11 total starts that year, he logged a 0-5 record and a 4.50 ERA while continuing to recover his form.
Minor League Breakthrough (2024)
Young’s 2024 season marked a turning point in his professional development. He made 27 appearances, including 24 starts, split between Double-A Bowie and the Triple-A Norfolk Tides. He posted a 5-6 record with a 3.57 ERA and recorded 132 strikeouts across 111 innings of work. The strong performance earned him Baltimore’s minor league pitcher of the year award.
On November 19, 2024, the Orioles added Young to their 40-man roster to protect him from the upcoming Rule 5 draft. The move signaled the organization’s confidence in his future and set the stage for his eventual MLB debut.
Baltimore Orioles Era (2025-Present)
Young began the 2025 season at Triple-A Norfolk before being promoted to the major leagues for the first time on April 19, 2025. He made his debut that same afternoon as the starting pitcher against the Cincinnati Reds, allowing three runs over four innings in a 9-5 home win. The appearance marked the realization of a journey that began with an undrafted free agent signing five years earlier.
On July 8, 2025, Young threw an immaculate inning against the New York Mets, striking out Jesse Winker, Jeff McNeil, and Luis Torrens in order on just nine pitches. The feat made him the fourth pitcher in Orioles history to record an immaculate inning and the first since Kevin Gausman in 2018.
On August 15, 2025, Young earned his first major league win and carried a perfect game bid through seven and 2/3 innings against the Houston Astros. The bid was the longest for Baltimore since Mike Mussina had his perfect game broken up with two outs in the eighth inning in 1998. The attempt ended on an infield single by former teammate Ramón Urías, but Young recovered to strike out the next batter, finishing eight innings with no earned runs, no walks, and only one hit allowed. Later that day, Young was placed on the injured list with a strained left hamstring sustained while covering first base, and he was transferred to the 60-day injured list on August 27, officially ending his rookie campaign. In 12 starts, he finished with a 1-7 record and a 6.24 ERA with 47 strikeouts.
Driving Style and Strengths
Young is recognized for his strikeout ability, having recorded more than a strikeout per inning across multiple minor league seasons. His ability to miss bats, combined with composure on the mound, has been central to his development as a starter. The rare immaculate inning he recorded in 2025 highlighted his command and pitch efficiency at the major league level.
Notable Events and Milestones
Two defining moments stand out in Young’s young MLB career: the immaculate inning against the Mets on July 8, 2025, and the near-perfect game against the Astros on August 15, 2025. His first major league win came in that same August 15 start, capping a memorable afternoon despite the hamstring injury that cut his season short.
Brandon Young Career Wins
Brandon Wayne Young’s professional win total reflects his gradual rise through the Baltimore Orioles system. His most prominent victory came on August 15, 2025, against the Houston Astros, when he delivered eight innings of one-hit, no-walk baseball to earn his first major league win.
Major League Highlights
Young’s lone MLB victory to date came during his 2025 rookie campaign. The win, paired with the deep perfect game bid and immaculate inning, defined his debut season despite an injury-shortened finish. Over 12 major league starts, he recorded 47 strikeouts while working exclusively in the starting rotation.
Other Wins and Performances
Before reaching the majors, Young posted a combined 9-9 record with a 3.57 ERA across Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk in 2024, earning Baltimore’s minor league pitcher of the year. His earlier professional totals include a 4-3 record across Delmarva and Aberdeen in 2021, establishing the foundation for his eventual promotion to Baltimore.
Brandon Young Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Details about Brandon Wayne Young’s family background are not widely documented in public sources. He grew up in Lumberton, Texas, where he attended local schools and began his baseball journey.
Personal Life
Information regarding Brandon Wayne Young’s personal relationships, marital status, and family life has not been publicly confirmed. As a young player early in his MLB career, he has kept his personal life largely private.
2025 Season Performance
Brandon Wayne Young’s 2025 rookie season was a study in contrasts. He opened the year at Triple-A Norfolk before earning a promotion to Baltimore on April 19, 2025, and immediately stepped into the starting rotation. Across 12 starts, he recorded a 1-7 record and a 6.24 ERA with 47 strikeouts, finishing the year on the injured list after straining his left hamstring on August 15.
Despite the win-loss line, Young produced several highlight-reel moments. The immaculate inning against the Mets on July 8 and the seven and 2/3-inning perfect game bid against the Astros on August 15 showcased his ceiling as a frontline starter. Both feats placed his name in the Orioles’ franchise record book alongside notable pitchers such as Kevin Gausman and Mike Mussina.
Young’s transfer to the 60-day injured list on August 27 officially ended his rookie campaign. Looking ahead, his combination of swing-and-miss stuff and demonstrated poise suggests a strong foundation to build on once he returns to health, positioning him as a young arm to watch in Baltimore’s pitching plans.