Michael Young

I appreciate the request, but I must be transparent about a significant challenge: the name "Michael Young" is extremely common, and the provided research points to multiple distinct individuals rather than a single notable person. The sources reference:

1. **Michael Young** — a former MLB baseball player (Texas Rangers), with batting statistics available from FanGraphs 2. **Michael H. Young** — a geosciences researcher at the University of Texas, named 2025 Halbouty Distinguished Lecturer by the Geological Society of America 3. **Michael E. Young, Ph.D.** — a psychologist selected as Vice Provost and Dean of Baylor University Graduate School 4. Several obituaries for different individuals named Michael Young

Without clear direction on which Michael Young is intended, and given that the Wikipedia summary itself is a disambiguation page ("Michael Young may refer to:"), I will write about the most prominently sourced individual with the richest available data: **Michael Young**, the former Major League Baseball player, as FanGraphs provides career statistics and he is the most widely documented figure among the candidates.

Michael Young
Born	19 10, 1976
Birthplace	Covina, California, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Former professional baseball player
Known for	Career with the Texas Rangers (MLB)

Michael Brian Young (born October 19, 1976) is an American former professional baseball player who spent the majority of his Major League Baseball (MLB) career as an infielder with the Texas Rangers. Over a career spanning from 2000 to 2013, Young established himself as one of the most consistent hitters in the American League during the 2000s and early 2010s, earning multiple All-Star selections. His career statistics, documented extensively by baseball analytics sources, reflect a player who combined contact hitting with steady defensive contributions across several infield positions. Young's tenure with the Rangers coincided with a period of growth for the franchise, and he became one of the most recognizable players in the team's history.

Career

Early MLB Career

Michael Young made his Major League debut with the Texas Rangers in 2000 at the age of 23. His initial appearance was limited, consisting of just two games with two at-bats, during which he did not record a hit, finishing with a .000 batting average across all offensive categories. Despite the inauspicious start, the Rangers retained Young on their roster heading into the following season.

The 2001 season marked Young's first substantial opportunity at the major league level. At age 24, he appeared in 106 games and recorded 429 plate appearances. During this breakout campaign, Young hit 11 home runs, drove in 49 runs while collecting 57 RBIs, and stole 3 bases. His strikeout rate stood at 0.0% in certain split categories, while his walk rate reflected the approach of a young hitter still developing his plate discipline.

Established Starter

Following his productive 2001 campaign, Young became an everyday fixture in the Texas Rangers lineup. According to his career statistics tracked by FanGraphs, Young's offensive production grew steadily through the early-to-mid 2000s as he transitioned into one of the American League's more reliable hitters. He played multiple infield positions during his career, including shortstop and third base, demonstrating defensive versatility that added to his value as a roster player.

Young's batting statistics across his career reflect a consistent contact-oriented approach at the plate. His FanGraphs player page documents his full statistical record from his 2000 debut through the end of his career, showing yearly splits across standard and advanced metrics including batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS, wRC+, and WAR (wins above replacement).

Career Statistics Summary

The comprehensive statistical record maintained by FanGraphs shows Young's career arc from his two-game cup of coffee in 2000 through his years as a full-time starter. His 2000 statistics — a .000 batting average, .000 on-base percentage, .000 slugging percentage, and -100 wRC+ in an extremely small sample — stand in stark contrast to the productive seasons that followed, beginning with his 106-game showing in 2001 where he began accumulating meaningful counting statistics including 11 home runs and 57 RBIs across 429 plate appearances.

Other Notable Individuals Named Michael Young

The name Michael Young is shared by several other notable individuals in diverse professional fields.

Michael H. Young (Geosciences)

Michael H. Young is a geoscientist affiliated with the Jackson School of Geosciences at the University of Texas. In July 2025, the Geological Society of America (GSA) selected Young as the 2025 Michel T. Halbouty Distinguished Lecturer, a prominent honor within the geological sciences. The Halbouty Distinguished Lectureship is awarded annually by the GSA to recognize significant contributions to the geological sciences, and the selection reflects Young's standing within the geosciences research community.

Michael E. Young (Psychology/Academia)

Michael E. Young, Ph.D., is an academic psychologist who was selected in May 2025 as the Vice Provost and Dean of the Baylor University Graduate School. Prior to his appointment at Baylor, Young served as a professor and graduate program director in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Kansas State University. His appointment at Baylor placed him in a senior administrative role overseeing the university's graduate programs and research enterprise.