Alex Young put together a strong, if not spectacular, rookie season in 2019. He started fifteen games and came out of the bullpen for two with the Diamondbacks that year, putting up an ERA+ of 126, slightly above league average. Luck may have had something to do with his success, given that he had a BABIP of just .253.
Despite doing well as the fifth starter last season, he went into the season destined for the bullpen, due to the arrival of Madison Bumgarner to the team during the offseason. There was a brief chance he may make the starting five after Mike Leake opted out, but lost out on the spot to Merrill Kelly and started the season in the bullpen.