Former Jimmie, Andy Young being called up to majors

A former University of Jamestown Jimmie is reportedly being called up to play Major League Baseball.

Andy Young, a former all-state player for West Fargo High School who played one season of Jimmie baseball as a freshman in 2013, will be called up to the Arizona Diamondbacks' 30-man roster, according to a Tweet sent out by the MLB Network's Jon Heyman on Saturday, Aug. 1.

Young was on the Diamondbacks' 60-man taxi squad comprised following the cancellation of the 2020 minor league season. The 26-year-old North Dakota native produced 29 home runs and 81 RBIs between Double-A and Triple-A in 2019.

"When you have talent, a great skill set and you're willing to work your butt off, it just goes to show you anything can happen," said University of Jamestown head baseball coach Tom Hager.

Young played in 39 games for the Jimmies in 2013. The shortstop put together a batting average of .269 in 130 at-bats, producing 35 hits, 18 walks, eight doubles, five homers, 21 RBIs and 27 runs scored.

The Jimmies rolled to an overall record of 30-11 in 2013, advancing to the opening round of the NAIA national tournament in Oklahoma City. Young produced a season-high six total bases in a 5-3 victory over Dakota Wesleyan on April 2 of that year in Lennox, South Dakota, clubbing both a two-run homer and a double, while a three-run homer spurred a season-high four RBIs in a 10-0 victory over Presentation College on April 6 in Huron, South Dakota.

"It's been really fun to see him develop throughout his career," said Hager. "He came here with lots of talent and a great skill set, and it was also very enjoyable to see him make improvements from the beginning of his freshman year till the end.

"He's a player that we thought had a chance to be really, really special."

Young was originally a 37th-round pick for the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2016 draft, after playing the 2014 college season at Neosho County Community College in Chanute, Kansas, and playing the 2015-16 seasons at Indiana State University in Terre Haute.

Arizona acquired Young from St. Louis in a 2018 trade that involved MLB All-Star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. The Diamondbacks (3-5) finish a three-game series today against the Los Angeles Dodgers and begin a three-game home series against Houston on Tuesday.

Young's father, Jeff Young, was an all-conference performer for Jimmie baseball in the 1980s.

"There are really good baseball players here in this state," Hager said. "Some have a chance to play in college and some obviously have a chance to go all the way to the big leagues."