“Hard to Breathe” – American Anthem Sends Shivers Down Orioles Rookie’s Spine in Unforgettable MLB Debut

Some moments don’t just happen—they arrive like thunder, uninvited but unforgettable. For one wide-eyed pitcher, the spotlight didn’t wait for nerves to settle or breaths to steady. In a sport where numbers rule and cool heads prevail, emotion crashed the party. The Baltimore Orioles didn’t just call someone up—they unleashed a debut that was part baseball, part baptism, and entirely unforgettable.

Finally, Brandon Young made his debut for the Orioles, which many fans were waiting for. The Orioles won the game 9-5 against the Reds, in which Brandon Young pitched for 4 innings. After the game, Young gave an interview on how his game went and how he felt while pitching.

Young said, “Pretty unreal. I had the expectations coming in, but blew them out of the water, still hard to breathe. Can’t feel my legs. But that was awesome. Everything I’ve dreamed for.” This is common for any player who makes his debut, but his journey to the Major Leagues is a rollercoaster ride.

It was like Young was born to play baseball, as his first words were “Ball”. But when he started to play ball, Young faced some big hurdles that were hard to overcome. Young had to undergo a Tommy John when he was playing in high school. He then went on to start his college career. He also went undrafted in the 2020 Draft but was signed by the Orioles as a free agent.

Brandon Young said his MLB debut was “unreal.”

“Still hard to breathe. Can’t feel my legs. But that was awesome. Everything I’ve dreamed for.”

Young said he wasn’t nervous until he heard the loud “O” during the national anthem.

“I was like, ‘Wow, that’s a lot of people.’” pic.twitter.com/MLdSwcYrSD

— Jacob Calvin Meyer (@jcalvinmeyer) April 20, 2025

Now, at the ripe age of 26, Brandon Young made his debut and did well in his first start. He gave away 3 runs early in the game, but then recovered well. After the 4 innings pitched, he had 3 strikeouts and walked 3 batters. After the game, Orioles manager Brandon Hyde told the media, “I thought he was solid. The stuff was good. First start in the big leagues, that’s never easy. I thought he controlled his emotions well.”

Not bad for a guy whose backup plan was still baseball.

Brandon Young didn’t just survive his debut—he made it clear he belongs. The Orioles didn’t get a placeholder arm; they got a pitcher with scars, swagger, and a story worth retelling. If this was the opening act, buckle up—because the next chapters might just blow the doors off Camden Yards.

Why Orioles fans should be hyped about Brandon Young

It’s not every day that a team fighting for October calls on a guy most fans couldn’t pick out of a lineup six months ago. But here we are—the Orioles are tapping into their secret stash of pitching potential, and suddenly, Brandon Young is more than just a name buried in the prospect rankings. He’s a symbol of bold bets, development wins, and maybe—just maybe—a little magic.

Brandon Young brings depth to the bleak Orioles pitching rotation. With pitchers like Grayson Rodriguez, Zach Eflin, and Tyler Wells on the IL, Brandon Young will be able to back up the pitching department with his fire arm and take the pressure off pitchers like Charlie Morton and Dean Kremer. Being a debutant, his arm is good, and with time, he will be able to go deeper into the game and take carry games on his own.

After going through some difficult hurdles in life, Young will have a very strong mentality that will be very useful as he goes further into his career. With him being a 6’6″ giant and the variations he has in his pitching, the Orioles might have developed a homegrown weapon.

So no, he’s not the savior—but in a season where duct tape has been holding the rotation together, Brandon Young might just be the right kind of crazy glue. He’s cheap, he’s tough, and he throws like he’s got something to prove—because he does. The Orioles don’t need miracles; they need arms that work. And Young? He looks like one hell of a working arm.

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