Baltimore Orioles: 2014 Season Grades – Outfielders

Oct 10, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles designated hitter Delmon Young (27) hits an RBI single in the 10th inning against the Kansas City Royals in game one of the 2014 ALCS playoff at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: H. Darr Beiser-USA TODAY Sports

Worse things could happen in the offseason than an inability of the Orioles to sign Nelson Cruz but are, rather, able to retain Delmon Young as a primary designated hitter. Young is age 29 right now; Cruz is 34. Young just batted .302 for the Orioles, Cruz hit .271 and batted .263 when he was age 30. I’m not saying that Young is as good as Cruz, but you get the point that he is not a slouch at the plate.

Young also has a good record, like Cruz, of performing well in playoff situations. He did not get in the lineup a great deal in the O’s two series, but of course he had the critical bases-clearing double against the Tigers that turned around the first game.

Delmon had just about the best season I can remember seeing anywhere, anytime, as a pinch hitter. Young was 10-for-21 with a double, triple, homer, and three walks. The Orioles were #1 in the American League with a pinch-hitting average of .313.

The Orioles were 34-22 in games where Young was a starter. Though considered a liability to some extent in the outfield, he did not commit an error in his 26 games played, mostly in left field.

For the role that he played as a utility outfielder and pinch hitter, one could not have hoped for more, so we will give him an “A-” grade.