ready or not

From the Whatever Happened to … Dept: Terrell Young, the former Grenada High pitching standout, has been in pro ball for parts of five seasons and has yet to get out of A-ball. That may change soon. Young, 24, a 6-foot-3 right-handed reliever, was the first selection in the major league phase of the Rule 5 draft last month. The Washington Nationals plucked him from the Cincinnati Reds, who drafted Young in the 10th round in 2004. Young will go to spring training with the Nationals — who no doubt need pitching help — and be given every chance to make the big league roster. If he doesn’t, the Nationals have to offer him back to the Reds, per Rule 5 rules. Young has a career ERA of 3.63 with 131 strikeouts and 85 walks in 141.2 minor league innings. He only made it to high Class A last summer. Still, the Nationals seem to believe that Young has matured enough, as both a pitcher and a person, to rate an opportunity, at least, to make their bullpen in 2009. That will be an interesting story to follow this spring. Ready or not, Young’s life may be about to change dramatically.
P.S. Former Meridian Community College catcher Paul Phillips, who has a smattering of big league time, has signed a minor league deal with the Colorado Rockies.