Former All-Star outfielder Chris Young is joining MLB Network as an on-air analyst and will make his debut on MLB Tonight on Memorial Day, the network announced in a press release this morning. He becomes the second recently retired big leaguer to join the network’s roster in recent weeks. Yonder Alonso was announced as a new analyst for MLB Network just under a month ago.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to join the squad to talk baseball, mix in a little trash talk, have some fun and get my feet wet in the industry,” Young said in a statement within today’s announcement. “Being fresh out of the game, I’ve followed it closely and am ready for this new challenge. I played for seven different teams in my career and I can’t wait to get started with my eighth.”
Young’s last MLB action came with the 2018 Angels, when he played through a hip injury that ultimately required surgery. He hit just .168/.252/.363 in 128 trips to the plate that season, but his overall body of work through parts of 13 MLB seasons was solid. Young finished fourth in 2007 NL Rookie of the Year voting with the D-backs, made the All-Star team in 2010, and for years was a big league regular with an enticing blend of power and speed. Young belted 191 homers and swiped 142 bases, tallying a trio of 20-20 seasons along the way. Overall, he batted .235/.314/.428 with above-average defensive ratings in center.
So when MLBN adds in a new player/analyst, does that mean someone has also lost their job?
Hopefully DeRosa whose only contribution is to note that he’s played with every MLB player ever mentioned….I cringe whenever he opens his mouth.
There is something about his demeanor that rubs me the wrong way.
I hear you. Has some Mark Wahlberg in him or something. Seems like he spends a lot of time in bars.
He’s got that ‘no doesn’t really mean no’ vibe.
There is a real frat boy vibe coming from him
Yeah I can totally see him doing a kegstand at a party while a bunch of dudes half his age cheer him on. After he’s done he jumps up gives a fistbump to the boys and bros out.
I just wish Chris Rose was brought back for IT. I stopped watching when he left. I didn’t realize then that the show WAS the banter and interaction between him and Millar. it just isn’t nearly as good without Rose.
Hope you’re listening to his podcast on Jomboy Media.
Wasn’t a huge IT fan, but more because if the style of the show. That said, the show is much weaker without Rose.
Not into pods. Is it him and Millar or just him and a guest, etc.?
It’s him and a different MLB players each episode. Each show it’s one of Lucas Giolito, Miggy Rojas, Trevor May, Steven Brault, Tyler Glasnow or Archie Bradley. And they usually bring on a guest.
Thank you.
The dude out-alpha’d all you simps w/o even making an appearance. Amazing.
DeRosa is also a big-time Republican, and not a single one of those people will ever see the “kingdom of heaven” that they preach about.
@Wilmer
You really showed them, buddy. Good one. [sarcasm]
Flores – Enough with the politics on a damn baseball site ya weenie.
It’s an entry level position where players are cycled out as needed – it can be an audition for bigger things or just a courtesy thing for the ex jocks.
Entry level positions don’t pay 6 figures, my dude.
And neither do MLB Network analysts, particularly entry level.
Doing a quick search, Glassdoor estimates that an MLB Network analyst makes between $61,641 – $73,764. I have to imagine that a smaller name just starting out is on the lowest end of the scale, if they are even actually on this scale and not being paid at some sort of appearance rate.
Naturally, I would imagine that Harold Reynolds, Bill Ripken, probably Dan Plesac and Jim Thome are on the higher side of the scale (if not over this scale).
DeRosa should pay THEM.
I don’t wanna be that guy, but I worked at MLB Network for a little bit. They make 4-5 times that. Glassdoor is estimating based off of “analyst” jobs which would be looking at data analysts, not on-screen personalities. By definition, nationally broadcasted on-screen talent positions are not entry level.
White Sox… umm well
Will he be wearing an Apple Watch?
Now MLB Network needs to get rid of Jim Thome and Carlos Pena.
What is your issue with Jim Thome?
He’s such a nice guy that it makes him a terrible analyst.
Thome seems much more comfortable in the teaching and demo segments than at the main desk.
Actually, one of the best ever MLB Tonight shows I can remember is the first time they paired Joe Girardi and Pedro Martinez. The two might have been with rival teams, but they absolutely had magical chemistry together (in an analyst sense).
Definitely Kje. Every time Girardi was on, I learned something new. And with Pedro, as a Yankees fan, I had always hated him. But he’s so great on MLB Network, I’ve become a big fan of his.
You’re also right about Thome. Him and Ripkin are good on the demos.
Does he want to play for the Mets?
Interesting couple of hires, but the problem with players fresh out of the game, they aren’t critical of their buddies still playing the game. There comes a time the players need to be called out for their poor play.
I liked Mitch Williams on there when the Network first started. He was honest and didn’t try to kiss the players butts.
Wild Thing was awesome but he definitely had to go.
Young can’t be any worse than Al Leiter or Harold Reynolds. I can’t change the channel quickly enough if either of those two are on the air.
What’s wrong with Leiter and HR?
“He’s 20. Most kids are much older at his age.” – Harold Reynolds
Yeah those 2 I like quite a bit. Harold has to watch himself so he doesn’t say something too critical I enjoy how he catches himself. Al is really smart both him and Harold are. Both seem like good decent people to me.
Now Ron Darling…..
Nothing except that Harold was inappropriate with an ESPN employee years ago and got himself fired but other than that he is a great dude.
Why bring up the past unless it’s relevant today? Everyone makes choices and decisions they occasionally regret. Sometimes their horrendous but if a second chance is extended, the past needs to kept in the past. Forgive but never forget. You sound like a spouse who won’t stop bringing up what can’t be changed, Dodger Jr.
I’d guess that the average viewing age of the MLB Network audience is above 50. I haven’t heard one young baseball enthusiast say they watch Al Leiter or HR, unless they come up in their YouTube recommends. It’s all Jomboy, Fuzzy, and a few others up until around 40, and then it’s the MLB Network crowd.
Good Ole Jomboy and Fuzzy.
At the risk of sounding like the old fart you are clearly referring to……who the heck ate those guys????
You don’t YouTube much, do you?
YouTube?
Kidding. But no man I don’t……
Baseball enthusiast… haha. I bet you are the type of person that loves using the term entrepreneur.
I’m 31 and love Al Leiter. Harold Reynolds is garbage tho.
Yeah this isn’t remotely accurate.
I’m 50+ and have been following Jomboy on Twitter since before he took off. Had to be one of his first few hundred followers. It was weird watching how he suddenly became “a thing.” Good guy. Glad he turned a hobby into a career.
he’s certainly quite funny
How is he going to have time to do this and be the GM of the Rangers?
Different Chris Young.
I know. Maybe a bad attempt at humor, but I couldn’t resist.
It’s kinda funny – if Javy Baez was a center fielder, he wouldn’t be that much better than Chris Young in his prime, and Chris Young was considered an above average center fielder, but not elite by any means.. Yet, people love Javy and expect him to get paid like he’s elite.
If my grandmother had wheels she would have been a bike.
Chris Young never had a slug% higher than .467. Except for last year’s shortened season, Baez has averaged a .520 slug% the last 4 years. They are very different players offensively.
MLBN needs to bring back Chris Rose
What’s the point? MLB Tonight is on like twice a week and you never know when. The nights are usually blacked out for me b/c they’re showing an Angels or Dodgers game I don’t care about.
he seems like he’d be a good TV presence
Why don’t they hire professional microphone/TV guys instead of ex-players? Going to sports broadcasting school or whatever has to be the biggest waste of money in the world, because only ex-jocks get hired.
That’s how they get the studio hosts and play-by-play guys. The ex-players become analysts and color commentators because of their experience in the game.
Chris B. Hired