Brandon Young knows all about the “legend” of Clay Buchholz in Lumberton. 

Buchholz built that legendary status in his hometown by winning a World Series with the Boston Red Sox. A banner with Buchholz’s picture permanently resides in the baseball stadium at Lumberton High School.

But Young is now developing his own reputation for winning at the Major League level. When he takes the mound, it’s almost always a winning proposition for the Baltimore Orioles. 

Baltimore has won nine of Young’s 10 total starts this season, highlighted by his best performance of the year this past week. Young threw seven innings of shutout ball during a 7-2 win last Wednesday over the Seattle Mariners. 

“I feel comfortable and confident,” Young told reporters after his most recent win.

Young is a 2016 graduate of Lumberton High School. He played Division I baseball with the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns and signed with the Baltimore Orioles as an undrafted free agent in 2020.

He worked his way through the organization and was the Orioles’ Jim Palmer Minor League Pitcher of the Year Award winner in 2024.

However, 2026 has been Young’s best season yet. He currently has a 3.04 ERA to go with 42 strikeouts. Young said his success this season has come from keeping hitters guessing.

“I’m throwing four different pitches for strikes,” he said. “Just being myself and attacking hitters.”

Young recently got some high praise from his fellow Lumberton “legend” during the appearance on Intentional Talk. Buchholz said he’s been watching Young closely this season.

“It’s been fun watching you pitch,” Buchholz said in a video prepared for Young. “It’s not every day that you get to see somebody from your hometown get to do what they love and prepared their whole life to do.”

Young is scheduled to be back on the mound either Tuesday or Wednesday during the Orioles’ upcoming series against the Seattle. He hopes to continue his winning ways against a familiar opponent from his previous performance.

“That’s the goal as a starter — to give your team a chance to win,” Young said. “With this team behind me, they make it so easy…it’s awesome.”