One of Major League Baseball's brightest prospects, rookie Delmon Young got his first taste of baseball using a stick to hit pebbles pitched by his father. (Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

Relaxing in the visitor's clubhouse at Rogers Centre in Toronto, B.J. Upton's eyes widen when he recalls his first baseball experience with Delmon Young.

Three years ago, the two were top prospects in the Tampa Bay Devil Rays organization honing their skills in the Arizona Fall League with the Mesa Solar Sox.

"Long, high home runs and a cannon for an arm," is how Upton described Young's performance in an interview with CBC Sports Online. "He reminded me of a young Vladimir Guerrero [the Los Angeles Angels star right-fielder]."

The AFL's lone teenager at the time, the then 18-year-old Young led the circuit with a .417 batting average and was named its top prospect.

"Having not seen live pitching for two to three months [after the high school season] he came fresh off the couch into pro ball and blew a lot of people away," Upton, a shortstop-turned third baseman, remembered.

Fast forward to Aug. 29, 2006: Young's major-league debut with the Devil Rays in Chicago against the defending World Series champion White Sox.

After being hit by a pitch and striking out in his first two at-bats, the 21-year-old outfielder lined a Freddy Garcia pitch in the sixth inning over the fence in left field for his first big-league home run.

He didn't stop there, going 8-for-14 in the three-game series. Young also became the 18th player since 1957 to begin his major-league career with three multi-hit games.

Young's quick start prompted Devil Rays manager Joe Maddon to move him to second spot in the batting order from seventh in front of all-star outfielder Carl Crawford.

In Toronto, Young had seven hits against the Blue Jays and through Sept. 18 was batting .388 overall with three home runs and 10 runs batted in.

The brother of longtime major leaguer Dmitri Young, he told CBC Sports Online that the hot start was a win-win situation.

Delmon and his older brother Dmitri Young are the highest-drafted brothers in baseball history: Delmon was drafted first overall by Tampa in 2003, while Dmitri went fourth overall to St. Louis in 1991. (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

"Guys are supposed to struggle when they get called up from the minors," said Young, who had hit safely in 16 of his previous 18 starts through Sept. 18, including 11 consecutive. "If I struggled I could use the excuse that it's my first time [in the majors] and I'm young. And if things go well I could say it wasn't supposed to be like that."

But, cautioned Young, "the season's not over. Things could change drastically and I could go on a downward spiral."

However, a significant drop in play doesn't appear likely, given Young's history of success at every level of baseball and his vast knowledge of the game.

Young has already managed to wow fans, teammates and opposing pitchers with his base-running skills, hitting and defence.

On Sept. 5, he posted the only two hits off Minnesota ace Johan Santana and the next day broke up Carlos Silva's no-hitter - the only hit Tampa Bay recorded against the Twins right-hander.

"I would like the young kids to come out to watch us play, and watch everything he does," Devil Rays manager Joe Maddon said of Young. "Because this young man here could be the poster boy."

Added Upton: "He's a pure hitter. He can hit pitches from head to toe, and he's hitting everything hard."

Defensively, Young nailed Ichiro Suzuki at third base during his home debut against Seattle on Sept. 3 when the Mariners' speedster tried to advance two bases on a single.

According to Crawford, it's simply a case of Young - widely considered the top-hitting prospect in baseball - wanting to be good.

"He wants his career to be a certain way at the end," Crawford, in his fifth season with Tampa Bay, told Sports Online. "For a guy who's 21 years old to know the game the way Delmon does, you know he has a bright future."

Crawford said he would have preferred if Young joined the Devil Rays earlier this year because "he probably could have been better [than he has showed]."

However, those who cover the game have speculated that Young was held back to teach him a lesson following a suspension in May.

Known for possessing a hot temper, the former Durham Bulls outfielder was banned 50 games - an International League record - after hitting an umpire with a bat during a triple-A game on April 26.

That followed a 2005 incident in which Young, then a member of the double-A Montgomery Biscuits of the Southern League, was suspended three games for bumping an umpire.

And prior to be recalled by the Devil Rays, a frustrated Young expressed his disappointment in a July 28, 2006, USA Today story that he hadn't been called to the majors along with Upton and first baseman Elijah Dukes.

"They're what, 30 games [actually 20] out of first place?" Young said at the time. "They [Devil Rays management] think we're going to upset clubhouse chemistry. What are they waiting for? They always have an excuse."

Some thought the fireworks would continue upon Young's arrival in Tampa Bay, considering the pressures that often follow young players at the major-league level.

But Crawford and Upton told Sports Online that the six-foot-three, 205-pound Young has been a model citizen and approaches the game in a business-like manner.

"He's been fine. He's handled it well," Upton said, referring to the increased media attention. "I don't think anyone here holds a grudge. We're all in this together right now."

Like Upton, Young is excited about what the future might hold for a Devil Rays club that also boasts promising young pitchers James Shields, Jason Hammel and J.P. Howell.

Tampa Bay has finished in last place in the American League East division from its inception in 1998 to 2003, as well as last season.

"I'm not here for self-satisfaction," said a terse Young. "I'm just trying to get victories."