Young began his professional baseball career in 2001 when he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 16th round of the MLB draft. He spent several years in the minor leagues before making his MLB debut with the Texas Rangers in 2006. In his rookie season, Young played in 30 games and hit .237 with four home runs and 15 RBIs.
In 2007, Young was traded to the San Diego Padres, where he played for four seasons. During his time with the Padres, Young established himself as a solid outfielder and a reliable starting pitcher. In 2007, he was named the National League Rookie of the Year after posting a 9-8 record with a 3.12 ERA and 164 strikeouts.
Young's best season as a pitcher came in 2010 when he went 2-0 with a 0.90 ERA in four starts before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. He returned to the Padres in 2011 but struggled with injuries and inconsistency, finishing the season with a 4-9 record and a 3.51 ERA.
In 2012, Young signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks, where he played for three seasons. He had a solid first season with the Diamondbacks, going 6-9 with a 4.15 ERA in 21 starts. However, he struggled with injuries and inconsistency in his final two seasons with the team, finishing with a combined record of 8-16 and a 4.84 ERA.
After leaving the Diamondbacks, Young played for several teams, including the New York Mets, the Kansas City Royals, and the Boston Red Sox. He primarily played as an outfielder during this time, but he also made a few appearances as a pitcher.
Young retired from professional baseball in 2021 after a 14-year career. He finished his career with a .237 batting average, 169 home runs, and 566 RBIs. As a pitcher, he had a career record of 79-67 with a 3.95 ERA and 1,277 strikeouts.
Off the field, Young was known for his philanthropic work. He founded the Chris Young Foundation, which supports children in need and military families. He also served as a board member for the Miracle League of Arizona, which provides opportunities for children with disabilities to play baseball.
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