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Dmitri Dell Young (born October 11, 1973) is an American former professional baseball player. He played all or parts of 13 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a left fielder, first baseman, and designated hitter, for the St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, and Washington Nationals from 1996 through 2008. He is a two-time All-Star and winner of the National League Comeback Player of the Year Award. His younger brother, Delmon Young, also played in MLB.

Key Information

High school career

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Young attended Rio Mesa High School in Oxnard, California.[1][2] He never hit below a .400 batting average while playing in high school[3] and earned USA Today High School All-American honors in his senior season.[4]

Young initially committed to play college baseball for the Miami Hurricanes.[5]

Minor leagues

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The St. Louis Cardinals selected Young in the first round, with the fourth overall selection, in the 1991 Major League Baseball draft. Early in his professional career, Young's weight raised concerns. In 1994, a Cardinals farm director told the Los Angeles Times that the organization worried he might "eat himself out a major league career." At the time, he weighed 240 pounds (110 kg).[6]

In 1995, Young punched a fan who had been heckling him and calling him racial slurs, which earned him a suspension from the Texas League.[7][8]

Finally, in 1996, he had a big year at Triple-A Louisville, batting .333, being chosen as a Triple-A All-Star first baseman and the St. Louis Cardinals Minor League Player of the Year. He was called up at the end of the season and played a few games with St. Louis in the majors.

Major league career

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Cardinals and Reds: 1996–2001

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Young's first full season in Major League Baseball was with the Cardinals in 1997, in which he hit .258. After the season, he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for Jeff Brantley. Eight days later, he was selected by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the expansion draft, then traded back to the Reds for Mike Kelly. While with the Reds, Young hit over .300 in each year (finishing second in doubles in 1998, and hitting 21 home runs in 2001). During those years, he played primarily the outfield and at first base.

Tigers: 2002–06

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After the 2001 season, he was traded by the Reds to the Detroit Tigers for Luis Pineda and Juan Encarnación. In 2003, he hit .297, with 29 home runs, and 7 triples (10th in the league). He was the Tigers' lone representative at the 2003 MLB All-Star Game, although he did not make an appearance on the field or in the batter's box.

On May 6, 2003, Young went 5–5 against the Baltimore Orioles hitting two homers and two triples, and a single. When he came up to bat in the ninth, he was a double short of the cycle. Instead, he hit his second triple of the night off Buddy Groom. "It crossed my mind, but since the game was close, my individual accomplishment took a back seat," Young said. "The run is the important thing."[9]

On April 4, 2005, Young joined George Bell and Tuffy Rhodes as the only players to hit three home runs on Opening Day in Detroit's 11–2 win over the visiting Kansas City Royals. Young, along with Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera, former Royals Designated Hitter Kendrys Morales, and Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager, are the only players to hit three home runs in one game at Comerica Park—one of the more difficult home run stadiums.[10] He was also known as "Da Meat Hook" and "The Big D" to Tigers fans.

Young appeared at World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)'s Survivor Series 2005 in an interview segment with Edge and Lita. Edge made fun of the Detroit Tigers, saying that they sucked, while Young cracked jokes at Edge concerning his failures on capturing a World Title.

2006

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In 2006, Young went through a divorce, and was treated for alcohol and substance abuse and depression. He pleaded guilty to assault after an argument in Birmingham, Michigan.[11]

On May 17, 2006, the Detroit Free Press reported that Young faced a misdemeanor domestic violence charge.[12] Young subsequently voluntarily spent 30 days in a rehabilitation facility, Promises Malibu, and three weeks working out with minor league teams. On June 13, 2006, Young failed to appear for a pretrial hearing on this matter and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest.[13] Ten days later, he pleaded no contest to the domestic violence charges.

On June 30, 2006, Young revealed that he had been battling several illnesses that resulted in him self-medicating with alcohol,[14] which limited his physical fitness and kept him from appearing in all but a small fraction of Tigers games during the season. He made a statement to the press in which he asserted that he had been making progress overcoming it with the help of Alcoholics Anonymous, whose logo has been tattooed on his hand as a gesture of thanks. He returned to action on July 21, 2006, versus the Oakland Athletics, starting at designated hitter and ending the game with two hits and 2 runs batted in during the Tigers' 7–4 win. Before the game started, FSN Detroit aired a video of Young apologizing to the fans and saying how he will continue to struggle against alcohol and drugs for the rest of his life.

On September 6, 2006, with less than a month to go in their American League Championship season, the Tigers gave Young his unconditional release in a move that surprised both teammates and fans alike.[15]

The day after Thanksgiving, an ambulance took him to a hospital, where he endured a three-day stay in the intensive care unit as his doctors diagnosed diabetes.[11] Since then, Young has taken steps to get his diabetes in control and is encouraging others to do so. He has recently[when?] appeared on dLife to talk to people about how he has lived with diabetes.

Nationals: 2006–07

[edit]

In late 2006, the Washington Nationals lost their first baseman Nick Johnson for nearly a year due to a broken leg. The following spring, the Nationals invited a number of first basemen to camp, including Young, who won the starting role. In his first game with the Nationals, on opening day, he hit two doubles. He went on to have a sizzling first half, reaching the All-Star break batting .340, third in the league, and he was selected to his second All-Star game—the Nationals' only representative. He singled in his only at-bat with two outs in the bottom of the ninth and scored on an Alfonso Soriano home run.

Young received his Detroit Tigers 2006 American League Championship ring when the Tigers played the Nationals in an interleague series at RFK Stadium in June 2007.

On July 4, Young hit a grand slam against the visiting Chicago Cubs. It was his sixth career grand slam. He finished the year batting .320, the highest of his career, and ninth in the National League. Towards the end of the month, Young signed a two-year, $10 million extension with a vesting option.[16] Upon the season's close, Young won the Player's Choice National League Comeback Player of the Year award.[17]

On March 29, 2008, the Nationals confirmed that Johnson would open the season as their starting first baseman over Young,[18] although on June 24, 2008, the Nationals announced that Johnson would have season-ending wrist surgery and named Young as the starting first baseman. On September 17, Young was declared officially out for the season due to his diabetes.

2010–Retirement

[edit]

After spending the 2009 season in the minor leagues, Young announced his retirement on March 18, 2010. On the same day, he was introduced as the Vice President and Senior Advisor of Baseball Operations and Special Hitting and Fielding Instructor of the Oakland County Cruisers minor league baseball team. After the 2011 season, Young announced he was attempting a comeback, but was not signed by any team.[19]

Post-retirement life

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Young began collecting baseball cards in 2000 when he and Reds teammate Danny Graves were offered $2,000 to appear at a card show. Young saw a Pete Rose rookie card and asked for it in lieu of the cash payment.[20] In 2002, Tigers teammate Robert Fick introduced Young to Dave Bailey, a memorabilia collector, and the two eventually amassed perhaps the greatest collection of rookie cards in the world.[20][21] He estimated that he spent $5 million of the $52 million he earned as a baseball player on his card collection.[20]

In 2010–11, Young co-hosted Card Corner Club Radio, a weekly sports card and collectibles show.[citation needed]

In 2012, Young put nearly 500 of the mint condition rookie cards up for auction with plans to use the proceeds to open a baseball school and nonprofit foundation in Ventura County, California.[20] The cards were auctioned individually and the collection ultimately fetched $2.4 million in total (equivalent to $3.37 million in 2025).[22] His 1955 Topps Roberto Clemente card fetched the highest price, setting a post-World War II record by selling for $432,690 (equivalent to $606,795 in 2025).[22] Overall, six different cards in the collection sold for six figures.[23]

At his heaviest during his playing career, Young weighed 295 pounds (134 kg) and was the third-heaviest player in MLB history.[24] As of July 2014, he had lost more than 100 pounds (45 kg) from his peak weight.[25]

Dmitri is currently the President of The Dmitri D. Young Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization providing baseball and life choices camps for student athletes in Southern California, in particular in Ventura County and with this alma mater, Rio Mesa High School. His foundation is awaiting IRS section 501(c)(3) status.[citation needed]

In August 2020, Young was named the head baseball coach at Adolfo Camarillo High School in Camarillo, California.[26]

In February 2025, Young was named manager of the Northern Colorado Owlz, a member of the independent Pioneer League based in Windsor, Colorado.[27]

Personal life

[edit]

Dmitri's younger brother is Delmon Young, the first overall draft pick in the 2003 Major League Baseball draft and runner-up for the 2007 American League Rookie of the Year Award. Delmon made his major league debut on August 29, 2006, exactly ten years after his older brother.[citation needed]

Young's sister, DeAnn, played college softball for the Oregon State Beavers.[28] His nephew, Quentin Young, is a prospect in the 2025 MLB draft.[29]

Dmitri and Delmon's father, Larry Young, from Mississippi, was one of the United States Navy's first African American F-14 fighter pilots.[30] He later worked as a pilot for Delta Air Lines.[31]

On July 6, 2010, Young was arrested at the Central Illinois Regional Airport on charges of possession drug paraphernalia and marijuana in Bloomington, Illinois.[32]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Dmitri Young

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Dmitri Dell Young (born October 11, 1973, in ) is a former American professional baseball player who primarily played as an and in (MLB) from 1996 to 2008. Drafted by the Cardinals in the first round (fourth overall pick) of the 1991 MLB June Amateur Draft out of Rio Mesa High School in , Young made his MLB debut on August 29, 1996, with the Cardinals. A switch-hitter who threw right-handed and stood 6 feet 2 inches tall, he was known for his power hitting and recorded a career of .292 with 1,389 hits, 171 home runs, and 683 runs batted in over 1,364 games. Young's professional career spanned four teams: the Cardinals (1996–1997), (1998–2001), Tigers (2002–2006), and (2007–2008). His breakout season came in 2003 with the Tigers, where he batted .297 with 29 home runs and 167 hits, earning his first selection. In 2004, he hit two grand slams within three days. In 2005, he hit three home runs on , showcasing his clutch power. Young's career highlight arrived in 2007 with the Nationals, where he rebounded from personal and health challenges to bat .320 with 38 doubles and 13 home runs, securing his second nod and the National League Comeback Player of the Year award. Young's final MLB season was 2008; he played in the minor leagues in 2009 before announcing his retirement in March 2010. He attempted a comeback in 2012 but did not secure an MLB contract. In his post-playing career, he has worked as a coach, including managing the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in the MLB Draft League in 2023 and the Northern Colorado Owlz in the Pioneer League in 2025. Young is also the brother of former MLB player Delmon Young and comes from a baseball family, with nephew Quentin Young playing in the minors.

Early life and education

Family background

Dmitri Young was born on October 11, 1973, in , to parents Larry and Bonnie Young. His father, Larry, served as one of the Navy's first African American F-14 fighter pilots before transitioning to a career as a pilot for , instilling a strong sense of discipline in the family through his military background. Bonnie Young provided essential emotional support, anchoring the household amid frequent relocations due to Larry's service. The Young family moved from to , during Dmitri's early childhood, before settling in , specifically the Camarillo area in Ventura County, where the children grew up immersed in athletics. Dmitri, the eldest of four siblings, shared a competitive home environment with his younger brother , who later became an MLB and the first overall pick in the 2003 MLB Draft by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, as well as sisters Detra and DeAnn. DeAnn pursued softball, playing collegiately for the . Larry Young's aviation experience profoundly shaped Dmitri's approach to baseball, as he applied principles from —such as precision, focus, and resilience—to his son's development, recognizing Dmitri's exceptional talent as early as age seven when the boy displayed a natural aptitude for the game. The family emphasized athletic participation, with Bonnie fostering a supportive atmosphere that encouraged all children to pursue their sports interests through local leagues and home practices in both and . This early environment, blending military discipline with familial encouragement, laid the foundation for Dmitri's lifelong passion for .

High school career

Dmitri Young attended Rio Mesa High School in , where he developed into one of the top prospects in the state during his four years on the varsity team from 1988 to 1991. Supported by his father, a commercial airline pilot who instilled discipline and a strong , Young focused intensely on the sport from a young age. As a hitter, Young excelled consistently, maintaining a of at least .400 each season and finishing his career with a .488 over 326 at-bats, including 159 that surpassed the California state record of 147 at the time. In his senior year of 1991, he batted .425 with 11 home runs and 31 RBIs, while ranking among the CIF Southern Section career leaders in runs (137), (159), RBIs (127), and doubles (36). Young's outstanding performance earned him multiple accolades, including the California Player of the Year award for the 1990-1991 season, High School All-American honors, and selection to the All-State team. These achievements drew significant recruitment interest from colleges, with Young originally committing to play at the before choosing to enter the MLB draft.

Amateur and minor league career

Draft selection

In the 1991 Major League Baseball June Amateur Draft, Dmitri Young was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals with the fourth overall pick in the first round, out of Rio Mesa High School in . His high draft position stemmed from his reputation as a power-hitting switch-hitter with strong infield skills, particularly at third base, which scouts viewed as offering significant offensive potential and positional flexibility. Young signed with the Cardinals on July 18, 1991, forgoing a commitment to play at the , where he had signed a . The contract included a of $385,000, along with up to $80,000 allocated for potential tuition and performance incentives, marking a substantial deal for a high school draftee at the time. Following the signing, Young was assigned to the Cardinals' Rookie-level affiliate, the Johnson City Cardinals, in the , where he reported shortly thereafter to begin his professional career.

Minor league progression

Young began his professional career in 1991 with the rookie-level Johnson City Cardinals of the , where he played 37 games, batting .256 with 2 home runs and 28 strikeouts in 129 at-bats. Primarily positioned at third base, his fielding percentage was .932 over 31 games, indicating room for defensive improvement. In 1992, Young advanced to Single-A Springfield Cardinals in the Midwest League, appearing in 135 games and posting a strong .310 batting average with 14 home runs and 94 strikeouts in 493 at-bats. He continued to play third base extensively, logging 126 games there with a .879 fielding percentage, highlighting ongoing challenges with defensive consistency. The following year, 1993, saw him split time between High-A St. Petersburg Cardinals (Florida State League) and Double-A Arkansas Travelers (Texas League), combining for a .289 average, 8 home runs, and 57 strikeouts across 114 games and 436 at-bats. During this season, he began transitioning positions, playing 68 games at first base (.989 fielding percentage) and 49 at third base (.913 fielding percentage). Young spent 1994 entirely at Double-A with the Arkansas Travelers, batting .272 with 8 home runs and 60 strikeouts in 125 games and 453 at-bats. He further shifted toward versatility, appearing in 45 games at first base (.965 fielding percentage) and 72 at shortstop (.991 fielding percentage), demonstrating continued infield flexibility. In 1995, he returned to Arkansas for 97 games (.292 average, 10 home runs, 47 strikeouts in 372 at-bats) before a brief 2-game stint at Triple-A Louisville Redbirds (.286 average, no home runs). Outfield became his primary position that year, with 93 games there at a .925 fielding percentage. Young's minor league career peaked in 1996 at Triple-A Louisville, where he excelled in 122 games with a , 15 home runs, and 67 strikeouts in 459 at-bats, earning him the St. Louis Cardinals' Player of the Year award. He solidified his role at first base, playing all 122 games there with a .993 fielding percentage. Young was recognized as a top prospect, appearing on Baseball America's Top 50 list four times from 1992 to 1995, with a high ranking of No. 12 in 1993. Over his six seasons in the Cardinals' system from 1991 to 1996, Young compiled a and 57 home runs in 632 games, though he struggled with strikeout rates averaging around 15-19% and defensive reliability early on. This progression, bolstered by his $385,000 that allowed full focus on professional development, transitioned him from a to a versatile and first baseman.

Major League Baseball career

St. Louis Cardinals (1996–1997)

Young made his major league debut on August 29, 1996, starting in left field for the St. Louis Cardinals against the Florida Marlins at , where he recorded his first hit—a single off —in four at-bats during a 10-9 loss. In his rookie season, Young appeared in 16 games as an outfield reserve, batting .241 with no home runs, providing glimpses of the power he had shown in Triple-A Louisville that year (.333 average). His limited playing time was partly due to minor injuries and the Cardinals' established outfield, though he contributed in the postseason with a key two-run triple in Game 4 of the against the . The 1997 season marked Young's first extended major league exposure, as he began the year with the Cardinals after breaking camp with the major league roster. He played in 110 games, primarily platooning at first base (74 games) and in (29 games total in left and right), while batting .258 with five home runs and 34 RBIs. Young's role expanded after the Cardinals acquired at the trade deadline, shifting him more to the corners of , where his defensive limitations—marked by below-average range and arm strength—were evident, contributing to occasional positional adjustments by manager . Injuries, including a strained calf muscle in May that sidelined him briefly, further limited his consistency. On November 10, 1997, the Cardinals traded Young to the in exchange for relief pitcher Jeff Brantley, as St. Louis sought to bolster its bullpen after losing closer to free agency.

Cincinnati Reds (1998–2001)

Young joined the prior to the 1998 season after being traded from the St. Louis Cardinals, where he had received limited playing time that helped build his confidence for an expanded role. In his first full major league season, he appeared in 144 games as the starting left fielder, batting .310 with 14 home runs and 83 RBIs while posting 48 doubles, second in the National League. This performance marked his breakout as an everyday player, contributing to the Reds' 85-77 record. From 1999 to 2000, Young maintained consistent offensive production, hitting .300 and .303 respectively, with at least 30 doubles each year—including 37 in 2000—and combining for 32 home runs and 144 RBIs over the two seasons. During this period, defensive responsibilities shifted toward first base due to the emergence of other outfielders like Greg Vaughn and Ken Griffey Jr., though he still logged significant time in the corners of the outfield. These years solidified his role as a key anchor in the lineup for a Reds team that won 96 games in 1999 but finished second in the NL Central. In 2001, Young achieved another strong season with a .302 , 21 home runs, and 69 RBIs across 142 games, primarily splitting time between left field and first base. Despite his productivity, he received consideration but was not selected, as the Reds posted a disappointing 66-96 record amid organizational changes. and conditioning concerns began to emerge during this time, contributing to trade rumors that affected his morale. Over his four seasons with , Young compiled a .304 with 67 home runs in 565 games, establishing himself as a reliable from both sides of the plate. On December 11, 2001, the Reds traded him to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for outfielder and pitcher Luis Pineda, part of a roster reconfiguration following the poor season.

Detroit Tigers (2002–2006)

Young was traded to the Detroit Tigers from the on December 11, 2001, bringing his consistent power-hitting to a rebuilding franchise. In , his debut year with Detroit, Young appeared in 54 games while hampered by a injury that required , posting a .284 with 7 home runs and 27 RBIs before the break. He primarily played left field and first base, contributing to a Tigers team that finished last in the AL Central with a 66-96 record. Young rebounded strongly in 2003, establishing himself as the Tigers' offensive leader in a career-best season. He played 155 games, slashing .297/.345/.564 with 29 home runs and 85 RBIs, earning his first selection as the American League's lone representative from . On May 6, he had a standout 5-for-5 performance against the Orioles, including two home runs and two triples. Transitioning more to and first base, Young helped anchor the lineup despite the team's 43-119 finish, the worst record in modern MLB history. The 2004 season proved challenging due to injuries, limiting Young to 104 games where he batted .272 with 18 home runs and 60 RBIs. He dealt with back and leg issues that sidelined him at times, but still provided steady production as the primary DH. Young's role solidified at first base and DH, appearing in 81 games at those positions combined. In 2005, Young returned to form with a solid campaign, batting .271 over 126 games with 21 home runs and 72 RBIs. He made history on , April 4, against the , hitting three home runs in a 4-for-4 performance that drove in five runs and powered an 11-2 Tigers victory. This feat marked only the fifth time in MLB history a player hit three homers on , highlighting his power potential early in the season. Young continued as the main DH and , contributing to Detroit's improved 71-91 record. Young's 2006 tenure with the Tigers was marred by personal and performance struggles. He started the year batting .250 with 7 home runs and 23 RBIs in 48 games before leaving the team on to enter a rehabilitation program for and personal issues. Activated from the disabled list on July 21 after rehab assignments in the minors, including time with Triple-A Toledo, Young struggled to regain his form amid the Tigers' AL Central race. On September 6, following a 5-4 loss to the Seattle Mariners, the Tigers unconditionally released him, ending his four-plus-year stint in where he had compiled a .277 , 82 home runs, and 267 RBIs primarily at first base and as DH.

Washington Nationals (2007–2008)

Dmitri Young signed with the as a on February 14, 2007, following his unconditional release by the Tigers the previous September. The 33-year-old quickly emerged as a stabilizing force at the position, providing veteran leadership to a young Nationals lineup that included players like and Nick Johnson. In 2007, Young experienced a remarkable resurgence, appearing in 136 games and posting a .320 batting average with 13 home runs and 74 RBIs, tying for eighth in the National League in hits (147). His performance earned him his second selection, where he started at first base for the National League at AT&T Park in , going 0-for-2 at the plate. Young capped the season by winning the National League Comeback Player of the Year Award, recognizing his turnaround after personal and professional challenges, including a diagnosis in November 2006. Impressed by his contributions, the Nationals extended his contract in July 2007 to a two-year, $10 million deal covering 2008 and 2009. Young's 2008 season was hampered by ongoing health issues related to , which led to multiple stints on the disabled list, including a placement on July 19 after complications arose. He appeared in only 50 games, batting .280 with 4 home runs and 10 RBIs, a decline from his previous year's output as younger players like took on larger roles. On November 5, 2008, the Nationals outrighted Young to Triple-A Syracuse, removing him from the 40-man roster and effectively ending his time with the organization. Over his two seasons with Washington, Young played 186 games, compiling a .310 , 17 home runs, and 84 RBIs while serving as a mentor to the team's emerging talent.

Later career and retirement

2009 minor league season and retirement

After playing 50 games with the in 2008, including time after a 50-game suspension for violating MLB's , Dmitri Young was limited by issues in 2009. He appeared in three games for Nationals affiliates, including the Gulf Coast League Nationals and , while managing his diagnosed in 2006. Young was granted free agency by the Nationals on November 6, 2009. He did not secure a major or contract for 2010 and announced his retirement on March 18, 2010, at age 36.

2012 comeback attempt

Following his retirement, Young made a comeback attempt in 2012. Having lost approximately 90 pounds to 205 pounds to control his and improve fitness, he played in the Venezuelan Winter League in late 2011 and held a private workout for the Phillies in 2012. Despite interest, he did not secure an MLB or contract and ended his playing career. Over 13 Major League seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, , Detroit Tigers, and Nationals, Young appeared in 1,364 games, compiling a .292 , 1,389 hits, 301 doubles, 171 home runs, and 683 runs batted in. In reflecting on his career, Young expressed gratitude for the opportunities he received across multiple organizations, while acknowledging that ongoing health challenges, including and a playing weight that reached 295 pounds, contributed to his physical decline and decision to step away. Young made no further attempts to resume professional playing after 2012, instead transitioning to family life and post-playing roles.

Post-playing career

Coaching and managerial roles

Following his retirement from professional baseball, Dmitri Young transitioned into by serving as an instructor for , where he mentored young prospects in skill development and game fundamentals. In August 2020, Young was appointed head coach at in , a role he held through the early part of 2023, emphasizing youth development and preparing players for higher levels of competition. In this position, he focused on building players' confidence and positive mindset, teaching them to overcome fear of failure and approach the game with energy and enjoyment to foster mental resilience. Young stepped away from the high school role mid-2023 to manage the of the , leading the team during its season that summer. In February 2025, Young was named manager of the in the Pioneer League, marking his first managerial role in an independent professional baseball league. The Owlz folded in June 2025, after which Young and his coaching staff managed the for the remainder of the season. As of November 2025, Young is seeking new managerial opportunities.

Broadcasting and advisory positions

Following his retirement from professional baseball, Dmitri Young took on the role of senior adviser of operations for the Frontier League's Oakland County Cruisers, an independent league team, in 2010. In this position, he contributed to the team's operations while also serving as a bench coach during that season. From 2010 to 2011, Young co-hosted Card Corner Club Radio, a weekly program focused on sports card collecting, memorabilia, Cardinals history, and broader MLB topics, reflecting his personal interest in the hobby. The show featured discussions with guests from the world and highlighted Young's expertise as a collector. Post-retirement, Young made occasional appearances as a guest analyst on , including segments on Hot Stove in 2024 discussing his collection and earlier discussions in 2023 about his managerial experiences in the . He also participated in local radio interviews and segments, sharing insights from his playing career with the Tigers. In 2025, he appeared as a guest on the Bleav podcast The Mayor's Office with Sean Casey. In an advisory capacity, Young mentored his younger brother during key career transitions from 2007 to 2015, offering guidance based on his own MLB experiences, particularly during Delmon's challenges with the Detroit Tigers in 2012. This role drew from Young's broader coaching background, which informed his advisory perspectives on player development and resilience. As of November 2025, no additional broadcasting or advisory media roles for Young have been announced.

Personal life

Family and relationships

Dmitri Young married Rebecca in the late 1990s, with whom he had three children: sons Owen, born June 21, 1997, and Damon, born July 7, 1999, and daughter Layla, born February 15, 2002. The couple's marriage began to unravel in 2005 amid personal challenges, leading to a separation and divorce finalized around 2006. Young shares a close bond with his younger brother, , a former outfielder whose career paralleled his own as a high draft pick and professional player. The brothers provided mutual support during their MLB tenures, with Dmitri offering guidance by introducing Delmon to clubhouses and sharing experiences from his earlier career, while Delmon motivated Dmitri during tough periods. Young's father, Larry Young, served as a Delta Airlines pilot and one of the U.S. Navy's first African-American F-14 fighter jet pilots, instilling values of discipline and resilience that influenced Dmitri's approach to athletics and life. His sister, DeAnn Young, contributed to the family's athletic legacy by playing first base and competing for the team, where she started all 59 games in 2008 and helped foster a household emphasis on sports excellence. Post-retirement, Young resides in , near his father, and focuses on spending quality time with his children, celebrating milestones like birthdays and national family holidays to maintain strong parental connections. In August 2006, Young was arrested and charged with assaulting his ex-fiancée in a Detroit suburb hotel room; the charges were later dropped. Young was diagnosed with in November 2006, which required ongoing management and contributed to significant challenges in his professional life. The condition exacerbated his longstanding weight issues, with his playing weight reaching a peak of 295 pounds and fluctuating between 290 and 320 pounds during the mid-to-late stages of his career. These fluctuations impacted his mobility and performance, notably leading to a to the in 2006 amid personal and health struggles, and a sharp decline in 2008 that limited him to 35 games with the before his release. To address his diabetes, Young appeared on the television program dLife in February 2008, where he discussed strategies for weight control and blood sugar monitoring as part of daily life for those with the condition. His health issues prompted periods of reflection and lifestyle changes, aligning with his retirement considerations around that time. On the legal front, Young faced an arrest on July 6, 2010, in Bloomington, Illinois, for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia while serving as a bench coach for the independent league Oakland County Cruisers. He posted a $100 bond and was released the same day, with a court hearing set for August 18, 2010. The incident, occurring shortly after a failed on-field comeback attempt earlier that year, disrupted his immediate post-playing transition and highlighted ongoing personal battles with substance use. By 2011, Young had begun emphasizing sobriety and health recovery, as demonstrated through substantial —dropping over 60 pounds to 232 by early 2012—and public expressions of commitment to wellness amid further baseball pursuits. This shift marked a turning point, allowing him to stabilize and pursue non-playing roles in the sport.

Philanthropy and foundations

Dmitri Young established the Dmitri D. Young Foundation, Inc. in 2012 as a aimed at supporting underprivileged youth through programs and development. The foundation's launch was funded primarily by the auction of Young's personal collection of Hall of Fame rookie cards, which generated substantial proceeds to initiate camps, clinics, and equipment provisions for aspiring young athletes. Headquartered in , the foundation focuses on providing equipment, covering travel expenses, and delivering instruction in both the sport and personal development to children from underserved communities. It hosts and camps designed to foster access to the game while emphasizing education and positive life choices, targeting student-athletes who might otherwise lack such opportunities. In addition to its core youth baseball initiatives, Young has collaborated with his brother, former MLB player , on charitable efforts, including a notable donation to the Lazarex Cancer Foundation in honor of their late mother, Bonnie Young, who passed away from cancer in 2009. These joint activities underscore Young's broader commitment to community support beyond his foundation's primary programs.

References

  1. https://www.mlb.com/player/dmitri-young-124693
  2. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/y/youngdm01.shtml
  3. https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Dmitri_Young
  4. https://www.espn.com/mlb/hotstove11/story/_/id/7451869/dmitri-young-making-comeback
  5. https://www.mlb.com/mariners/video/young-talks-mlb-draft-league
  6. https://www.pioneerleague.com/sports/bsb/2025/releases/20250305fklkdu
  7. https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/dmitri-young/
  8. https://www.thecamarilloacorn.com/articles/mothers-death-leads-brothers-to-raise-funds-for-cancer-research/
  9. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/y/youngde03.shtml
  10. https://osubeavers.com/sports/2011/11/2/208334308
  11. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-05-18-ve-199-story.html
  12. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-05-19-fi-186-story.html
  13. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-06-03-sp-165-story.html
  14. https://www.thecamarilloacorn.com/articles/young-one-of-countys-all-time-great-sluggers/
  15. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-06-12-sp-492-story.html
  16. https://www.vcstar.com/story/sports/high-school/baseball/2020/08/13/former-major-league-star-dmitri-young-named-camarillo-high-baseball-coach/3366087001/
  17. https://playeroftheyear.gatorade.com/winner/Dmitri-Young/20612
  18. https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/index.fcgi?year_ID=1991&draft_round=1&draft_type=junreg&query_type=year_round
  19. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-06-04-sp-362-story.html
  20. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-07-19-sp-2332-story.html
  21. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-07-17-sp-2210-story.html
  22. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=young-001dmi
  23. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=youngdm01&t=b&year=1996
  24. https://www.mlb.com/video/dmitri-young-s-1st-big-league-hit
  25. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8oZDE4vx8M
  26. https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/may-14-1997-mike-gulans-unique-debut-micah-franklins-first-homer-propel-cardinals-over-phillies/
  27. https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/trades.php?p=youngdm01
  28. https://www.mlb.com/news/walt-jocketty-recalls-ill-fated-cardinals-deal-c163398124
  29. https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CIN/1998.shtml
  30. https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CIN/1999.shtml
  31. https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/2001/1211/1293563.html
  32. https://www.mlb.com/video/dmitri-young-goes-5-for-5
  33. https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/stats/_/id/3538/dmitri-young
  34. https://www.mlb.com/video/young-s-three-opening-day-homers-c25589025
  35. https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2576763
  36. https://www.theledger.com/story/news/2006/07/06/dmitri-young-now-rehabbing-with-l-tigers/25884801007/
  37. https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/dmitri-young
  38. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2007/10/03/nats-young-earns-nl-comeback-honors/d59fc135-1459-4f8e-b62d-6d68fd366bc0/
  39. https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2949990
  40. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2008/07/28/diabetes-keeps-young-from-resuming-play/507707e7-9333-4f47-8d0e-eac2e4ce5a5b/
  41. https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/nov/5/nats-outright-young-opening-roster-spot/
  42. https://www.milb.com/player/dmitri-young-124693
  43. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/03/dmitri-young-retires.html
  44. https://www.mlive.com/tigers/2012/01/former_detroit_tigers_slugger.html
  45. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/365988-big-d-retires
  46. https://www.tribtoday.com/sports/local-sports/2023/02/dmitri-young-named-new-scrappers-manager/
  47. https://www.northerncoloradoowlz.com/sports/bsb/2025/releases/20250227ly6kt2
  48. https://www.pioneerleague.com/sports/bsb/2025/releases/20250630lkwe86
  49. https://www.linkedin.com/in/dmitri-young-a60228116
  50. https://redbirdrants.com/posts/the-history-of-the-st-louis-cardinals-top-7-draft-picks-01hgx7gg65at/4
  51. https://www.mlb.com/video/dmitri-young-joins-hot-stove-to-talk-baseball-cards
  52. https://www.mlive.com/sports/bay-city/2011/01/q_a_with_former_detroit_tigers.html
  53. https://bleav.com/shows/the-mayors-office-with-sean-casey/episodes/da-meat-hook-dmitri-young-steps-inside/
  54. https://archive.nytimes.com/bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/03/dmitri-young-wants-to-help-brother-delmon-and-at-risk-kids/
  55. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2007/07/08/embracing-the-momentum/b86d45e1-5f43-462b-9ee2-bc75cf119573/
  56. https://www.vintagedetroit.com/remembering-the-detroit-tigers-bad-boy-dmitri-young/
  57. https://www.mlb.com/news/2025-draft-prospect-quentin-young
  58. https://www.twincities.com/2008/06/16/brothers-delmon-and-dmitri-young-finally-get-to-play-against-each-other-as-the-minnesota-twins-host-the-washington-nationals/
  59. https://dailyemerald.com/61158/archives/camarillo-grads-take-over-civil-war-rivalry/
  60. https://www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/slim-and-trim-dmitri-young-angling-for-another-comeback
  61. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1205427/
  62. https://www.mlive.com/tigers/2010/07/ex-tiger_tiger_dmitri_young_ar.html
  63. https://www.theoaklandpress.com/2010/07/07/oakland-county-cruisers-back-bench-coach-dmitri-young-after-arrest-for-drugs-in-illinois/
  64. https://motorcitybengals.com/2010/07/06/former-tiger-dmitri-young-jailed/
  65. https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/dmitri-young-talks-baseball-cards-and-wanting-to-trip-barry-bonds/
  66. https://www.sportscollectorsdaily.com/dmitri-young-card-collection-goes-on-auction-block/
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