Quentin Young is ready to make Major League Baseball say “uncle.”
The 18-year-old shortstop became the third member of Camarillo’s Young family to be drafted by a Major League Baseball team, joining his uncles Dmitri and Delmon.
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The Minnesota Twins selected the recent Oaks Christian graduate and Louisiana State University commit 54th overall on July 13.
“The first round was always the goal, but I’m happy with where I ended up,” Young said. “All the stuff I’ve gone through, it was all for a reason. It all worked out in the long run.”
When the call finally came, Young’s mother Detra tried in vain to get within range to hear the phone at the ear of her 6-foot-6, 225-pound teenaged son.
“I was standing on my tippy toes,” Detra Young said. “But I couldn’t even hear it because I’m short compared to him.”
Two others with local connections were picked during the two-day draft: UC Irvine outfielder Chase Call, a Calabasas High graduate, was drafted in the 16th round (486th overall) by the Houston Astros and Florida International outfielder Owen Puk, the younger brother of former Agoura High softball star Jessi Puk, was selected in the 18th round (531st overall) by the Washington Nationals.
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After a rollercoaster of a junior year, Young lived up to his prodigious promise as a senior, hitting .381 with a .555 on-base percentage and a .929 slugging average in 29 games for the 20-9 Lions. His 14 home runs were second in California and 11th nationally, according to MaxPreps.com.
“I was really happy with my senior year, how that ended up for me,” Young said.
The performance was a strong response to a rough summer of 2024, when, sapped by a wrist injury, his draft stock dipped after he struggled with the Team USA Under-18s in Panama.
“Once that finished up, I took time off to focus on what I needed to do,” Young said. “I wanted to show that that’s not the player I am.”
Quentin Young batted .381 with 14 home runs in his senior season at Oaks Christian.
Dmitri Young was selected fourth overall by the St. Louis Cardinals as a Rio Mesa High senior in 1991. A career .292 hitter, Young played for four teams during a 13-year major league seasons.
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Delmon Young was selected first overall by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays as a senior at Camarillo High in 2003. The 2012 American League Championship Series Most Valuable Player played for six teams during a 10-year major league career.
Although he wasn’t selected in the first round like his uncles, Young’s immediate emotion to being drafted was relief.
“It was a long day,” Young said. “It’s finally done.”
Supported by friends and family at the Fillmore home of Oaks Christian teammate James Latshaw, Young suffered a nervy night, until the 11th pick of the second round arrived.
Former Oaks Christian star Quentin Young (center) poses with family and friends after being selected by the Minnesota Twins during the Major League Baseball Draft on July 13.
“For me, it was the waiting around the whole time,” Young said. “Just sitting there watching everyone go. … It felt like forever.”
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Young was joined by several members of his family, including his mother Detra, uncle Dmitri, grandfather Larry and sister Alanna, who played basketball at Newbury Park High.
He also spoke to his uncle Delmon, who lives in south Florida, on the phone.
“He said to keep the chip on my shoulder,” Quentin said. “He knew I had potential to go first round for sure.”
Young spent the next morning working out in Thousand Oaks, preparing to report to the Twins later this month.
“I’m trying to show all the teams what they really missed out on for sure,” Young said.
Young has played on the left side of the infield since he played Pony Baseball growing up in Camarillo. He indicated he is open to a position shift professionally, if needed.
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“I want to stay at shortstop for as long as I can,” Young said. “If I have to move to go up for the call, I will.”
Young is being advised Delmon’s longtime agent, Joel Wolfe of Wasserman Media Group. He worked out with a series of teams during the pre-draft process, including several of his uncles’ former teams — the Twins, Tigers, Rays and Reds.
“Most of them knew my uncles from playing with them or scouting,” Young said.
He traveled to Wrigley Field to work out for the Cubs. He worked out at Dodger Stadium, Angel Stadium and Petco Park for the three Southern Californian teams. The Royals visited him at Oaks Christian.
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Unlike the Young family’s first two experiences with the MLB Draft process, Quentin’s potential landing spot varied wildly, depending on the source.
“That was the toughest part of this draft,” said Larry Young. “You didn’t know where he was going.”
Turns out, it was a familiar destination.
Delmon played more than 400 games for the Twins from 2008 to 2010, enjoying perhaps his best statistical season in 2010, when he hit .298 with 21 home runs and 112 RBIs.
Quentin was so young, he can’t remember it.
“I remember when he was with Baltimore from (2014 to 2015),” Quentin said.
The Youngs are now busy pulling out all their old Twins hats, jerseys and jackets. Somewhere there is a photo of a toddler Quentin with the Twins’ mascot, T.C. Bear.
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“It’s kind of come full circle,” Detra said.
Joe Curley covers baseball for The Star. He can be reached at joe.curley@vcstar.com. For more coverage, follow @vcsjoecurley on Twitter/X, Instagram/Threads, Facebook and Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Quentin Young keeps family tradition going by being selected in MLB Draft