The Second Pick: Alex Young

Alex Young
6' 2" 205 lbs
LHP
Texas Christian University

With the 43^rd overall pick in the 2015 Rule 4 Draft, the Arizona Diamondbacks selected Alex Young, a left-handed pitcher out of Texas Christian. The Horned Frog is a converted reliever with three pitches all of at least average offering. He has a fastball with plenty of life that ranges from 89-92 mph. His primary off-speed pitch is a knuckle curve that he is able to control with surprising accuracy. He will throw it in any count and is able to throw it for strikes, bury it in the dirt, and to give both looping and tight offerings with it.

His third pitch is a change-up, a pitch only recently developed, but showing promise. Young's calling card has become his strike throwing ability. In 2015, more than 66% of his pitches have gone for strikes. This has enabled him to limit free base runners and to rack up decent strikeout numbers with a 158:45 K:BB ratio across 166^2/3 innings in three years at TCU. Throwing a 10-strikeout performance, TCU will be headed to the Omaha, where he could potentially face off against fellow Arizona draftee, Dansby Swanson.