by Vinny Messana
The comparisons are too easy to make at this point–how many 6’10” left-handed pitchers with a dynamite fastball can you think of?
St. Dominic’s ace, Kyle Young, can only embrace it.
“I think it’s one of the best compliments I can receive,” said the big lefty. “He’s one of the best pitchers ever,” he added.
Photo Credit: Vinny Messana
Now, while the HS senior has quite a ways to go to match the career resume of “The Big Unit”, to high school hitters in 2016–he is Randy Johnson.
Young has led to the Bay Hawks to another great season, after finishing runners-up in the CHSAA in 2015 to Chaminade. Feeling disappointed with not coming out on top, he went to work this off season and wanted to improve in all aspects.
He spent everyday in the gym and worked with pitching coach, Neal Heaton.
It has appeared to have worked, as his fastball is regularly sitting in the 87-89 MPH range and he has refined his command.
Please donate your lightly-used baseball equipment to ‘Bats 4 Buddies’ at the Battle of the Border!
One of the best players on Long Island, Straton Podaras, has seen him quite a few times and notices a difference as well.
“When you face him, you really need to dig yourself in the box and be ready for anything, because he has three great pitches that he can throw for a strike,” said Podaras. “Everyone sees on the gun that he can get up to the high 80s and maybe 90 a couple times but people don’t realize how close he’s releasing the ball from the mound. His massive stride along with his long arms makes the ball get on you really quick. Last year and the beginning part of this year, he didn’t really know how to throw inside and what my teammates and I did was to get up on the plate and challenge him. Now he’s able to command his fastball inside and really shut down hitters,” he added.
The difference is stark. He already has five wins and he could have another two starts left. His fastball has left hitters helpless and his change-up is virtually undetectable from his fastball and leaves hitters flailing.
The height and the fastball velocity cannot be taught. It allowed him to get a scholarship to Hofstra University, where he plans to attend this fall.
“They’ve been watching me since sophomore year,” he said. “When I visited, I just loved the campus. They’ve been making a lot of moves, getting great players,” he added.
He also noted that he has developed a great relationship with Head Coach John Russo and he loves how he treats his players. “He’s real with everyone. He keeps it as a family environment, he always checks in on me…he’s just a great guy,” he added.
While the thought of Young dominating the CAA while pitching to Vito Friscia and having Steven Foster, Mat Annunziata, Teddy Cillis and Sean Rausch scoring runs for him is tantalizing, there is a chance that he never steps a foot on campus.
With his improved command and his advanced pitchability, there is a chance he gets a hefty signing bonus in the near future.
That is not something he is concerning himself with just yet, though.
“Right now the plan is to go to Hofstra,” he said. He is undecided whether to major in accounting or business but he knows the importance of getting his degree.
Right now, Kyle Young’s business is on the mound, and his job is to strike out batters for the Bay Hawks.
He has done a terrific job at blocking out the noise (and the scouts behind home plate) all season.
He will just have to continue to do so for a couple more weeks, and then it could just be a matter of time before his name goes alongside Randy Johnson as the tallest LHP in professional baseball history.
