Talk about old school.
Former New York Yankees and New York Mets outfielder Chris Young graduated from college last month, more than three years after ending his MLB career. Per the Boston Globe:
When a high school player signs to play professionally, you often hear about a clause in the contract that his college education will be paid for if he pursues a degree. That was the case with Chris Young when he signed in 2001. He went on to play 13 seasons and make $51.6 million but didn’t give up on college. Now 38, Young graduated from Arizona State last month after earning his degree in three years.
The reason Young pursued his degree? Per USA Today’s Bob Nightengale: “I truly believe education is important,” said Young, who has two young daughters. “I want to set an example.”
According to Nightengale, Young “signed professionally out of high school in 2001 with the Chicago White Sox.” Young made his MLB debut five years later wiht the Arizona Diamondbacks. Young finished fourth in National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2007 and was an All-Star in 2010.
The Diamondbacks traded Young to the Oakland A’s after the 2012 season. Following the 2013 campaign, Young joined the Mets as a free agent. He played in 88 games for the Mets in 2014, hitting .205. The Mets cut Young that August, and the Yankees picked him up, then re-signed him for the 2015 season. Young played in a total of 163 games for the Yankees, hitting .257.
Following his tour in the Bronx came a two-year run with the Boston Red Sox, then a last stand with the Los Angeles Angels in 2018.
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Mike Rosenstein may be reached at [email protected].
