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Curt Young returns for his sixth season as As pitching coach, a position he was appointed on December 2, 2003. The 2009 season will mark Youngs 22nd year in the Oakland organization, which includes 12 years as a player and four years as a minor league coach.
Over the past five seasons, the As pitching staff has allowed the fewest home runs in the American League (753), has the lowest opponent batting average (.258) and ranks third in ERA (4.07). During Youngs tenure as pitching coach, five As pitchersMark Mulder (2004), Tim Hudson (2004), Justin Duchscherer (2005, 2008), Barry Zito (2006) and Dan Haren (2007)have been selected to the American League All-Star team, with Mulder and Haren earning starts in the Midsummer Classic. Closer Huston Street earned 2005 American League Rookie of the Year honors and Zito (July, 2005), Esteban Loaiza (August, 06) and Haren (May, 2007) earned AL Pitcher of the Month Awards.
Young began his coaching career in 2000 as the pitching coach at Double-A Midland. His first Midland staff compiled a 4.64 ERA which was the lowest figure posted by the club in 15 years. His 2001 staff bettered the previous years figure by 24 points, finishing with a 4.40 ERA, and in 2002 the RockHounds finished with a 3.88 ERA. Young was promoted to Triple-A Sacramento for the 2003 season and the River Cats posted the fourth best ERA in the Pacific Coast League (3.90) en route to the PCL Championship.
Young compiled a 69-53 record and a 4.31 ERA in 251 games, 162 starts, in an 11-year Major League pitching career that included stints with Oakland (1983-91, 93), Kansas City (1992) and the New York Yankees (1992). He was originally drafted by the As in the fourth round of the 1981 June draft and made his major league debut in 1983. The left-hander went 13-9 with a 3.45 ERA in 1986 and led the team in victories, earning him an Opening Day start in 1987. He matched his career best in wins in 1987, posting a 13-7 record and a 4.08 ERA in a career high 31 starts. Young was also a member of the As starting rotation when they won three consecutive American League pennants from 1988-90. He tossed two one-hitters during his career: October 5, 1986 against Kansas City and June 9, 1987 against Chicago.
Young graduated from Arthur Hill High School in Saginaw, Mich., where he also starred as a quarterback, and attended Central Michigan University. In 1980, he pitched for the United States team in the World Amateur Baseball Tournament in Japan. Curt makes his offseason home in Scottsdale, Ariz. with his wife, Kathy, and their two sons.
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