Michael Young has off the field significance for Philadelphia Phillies, says Ruben Amaro Jr.-MLB
General Manager for Philadelphia Phillies, Ruben Amaro Jr. is of the view that entry of infielder Michael Young in the team is enormously beneficial for the club.
Not just during the matches but off the field presence of Young can help the young players of the team greatly.
Being one of the strongest batters in the Major League over the years, Young can be an inspiration for the emerging hitters that want to achieve excellence.
Ever since his Major League debut, Young has played for only one organisation before being traded to the Phillies by the Texas Rangers.
The longevity of his stay with the Rangers reflects the kind of reliable player he has been for the club. It shows he was so valuable for the team that they did not unload him from the roster for so many years.
His career batting average of .301 speaks volumes of his greatness as a Major League batter. Except for the relatively below par 2012 season, he has been extra ordinary throughout his career.
He has 177 home runs and 984 RBIs under his belt to proclaim the honour that he is being showered by the officials of the Phillies at the moment.
Amaro has unambiguously called the presence of Young in the team as hugely beneficial. He perhaps knows the extent of offensive damage he is capable of doing to the oppositions.
"Michael brings a lot to our team, not just on the field, but off it as well," Amaro Jr. said. "He has been one of the premier hitters in the American League for a decade and is someone who has a tremendous presence in the clubhouse. We couldn't be happier
that he has accepted the assignment to come to the Phillies."
While the negotiations involving trade of Young were underway, it was apprehended by some experts that his batting average is declining. They cited his 2012 season numbers as the reason to prove their claim.
Interestingly enough, GM has disregarded all those reservations shown by the experts as he puts complete faith in the abilities of the infielder.
Young will be playing at third base for Philadelphia. The added advantage of having Young by the club is his ability to man all the infield positions and doing the work effectively regardless of his place in the field.
Over the years, the Rangers used him at various positions. Not only did they draw offensive benefits of his existence, they easily rotated him as per the emerging requirements of the club.
This indicates that the Phillies can also utilise him in a similar fashion in case the need arises.
Young will be mindful of the need to reverse his decline that started to appear in his batting average during the 2012 season.
For a player of his calibre, it is easy to believe he will stand out next year and prove his critics wrong.
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