Jared Young (29, KBO registered name Jared), who played for the Doosan Bears in the Korean professional baseball league last year, fired a home run in a Major League Baseball (MLB) New York Mets uniform.
MLB.COM shed light on the relationship between Young and Brandon Waddell (KBO registered name Brandon), who stayed together at Doosan and were called up to the big league on the same day.
Young started the home game against the MLB Chicago White Sox at Citi Field in New York on the 28th (Korea time) as the sixth designated hitter and played 2 hits and 2 RBIs in 3 at-bats.
At the bottom of the first inning with two outs and a runner on first base, 2-2, he hit Jonathan Cannon's 145km/h cut fastball to draw a two-run arch over the right wall.
It was the final hit of the game.
The Mets beat the White Sox 6-4.
MLB.COM said, "Young hit a home run in the big league for the first time in 613 days since the game against the Colorado Rockies on September 23, 2023, when he was a member of the Chicago Cubs," adding, "Young waited 613 days through three teams and two countries before adding a home run in MLB."
Young, who was released by the Cubs at the end of the 2023 season, played in the minor leagues under the St. Louis Cardinals in 2024 and signed with Doosan on July 23 of that year.
Young, who played in 38 games for Doosan with a batting average of 0.326, 10 homers and 39 RBIs, signed with the Mets instead of Doosan.
Young, who opened this year's regular season with the Minor League Triple-A Syracuse Mets, was called up to the big league on May 25.
After returning to MLB, he had no hits in five at-bats in three games, but in the fourth game, he had multiple hits, including a home run.
"It's been a long time. MLB is the best league in the world, so you have to do your best to succeed here," Young said. "I'm glad to be back in the big leagues. I felt like I belonged to the Mets. I want to continue contributing to my team's victory."
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said, "Young returned to the big league after a tremendous effort," adding, "We gave Young, who returned to MLB after a minor league and an overseas league, a chance, and Young took advantage of that opportunity."
Waddell is among the Mets teammates who celebrated Young's home run.
Waddell was also called up to the Mets with Young on the 25th.
Before joining the big league together, there was also an interesting story.
At 9:30 a.m. local time on the 24th, Waddell was informed of his promotion to the big league by the club's staff.
However, Young, who was called up together, could not be reached.
Waddell's wife called Young's girlfriend urgently, and Young's girlfriend knocked on Young's apartment door to wake him up, who was asleep.
Waddell and Young first formed a relationship at Doosan in 2024.
After Young signed with Doosan during the season, his agent gave Young the contact information of Waddell, who was already playing for Doosan.
Waddell, who was in his third season in the KBO, introduced Young to restaurants and Seoul attractions.
The Doosan foreign player stayed in the same apartment, so Waddell's wife and Young's girlfriend became very close.
Waddell said, "I've never known Young, but when we're together outside the country, the bond grows very quickly."
In fact, Waddell and Young have never played in the same game.
Waddell, a pitcher, felt shoulder pain in late June and ended his Korean career without returning to the mound.
However, in the same apartment, Waddell and Young developed a friendship. 메이저놀이터
The relationship also continued in the United States.
Young signed with the Mets first, and Waddell also signed a minor league contract with the Mets.
Waddell moved to the big leagues on May 1, pitched in relief against the Arizona Diamondbacks on the same day, and pitched well with three hits and no runs in four ⅓ innings. It was his first big league game in four years since 2021.
Waddell moved back down to the minor leagues on May 2 but back up to the big leagues on May 25.
After being called up again, he has yet to get a chance to take the mound. However, he holds a spot on the big league roster.
Young welcomed his relationship with Waddell, saying, "Baseball creates interesting stories in strange ways."