From then on, Cary Young knew his son wouldn’t let anything prevent him from living out his dream of becoming a Major League baseball player. Not two Tommy John surgeries. Not beginning his collegiate career at a junior college (Howard College in Big Spring, Texas). Not a pandemic-shortened MLB Draft that left Brandon as a free agent in July 2020.

The nerves were there for Young early, as the O’s No. 19 prospect (per MLB Pipeline) yielded seven hits over the first two innings, resulting in a trio of runs that gave the Reds a 3-2 lead midway through the second. But he retired the final two batters of the second -- including a punchout of Matt McLain for his first career strikeout -- and settled in from there.

Young had retired seven of eight batters before walking TJ Friedl to open the fifth and end his 81-pitch outing. Young struck out three and was picked up by his defense -- right fielder Tyler O’Neill threw out Austin Hays at the plate to end the first, while Ramón Urías turned a 5-4-3 double play to end the fourth.

Baltimore’s bats also supported its newest starter . Cedric Mullins and Gunnar Henderson opened the bottom of the first with back-to-back home runs off Cincinnati right-hander Hunter Greene, then Ramón Laureano swatted a tie-breaking two-run homer in the third that put the O’s ahead for good during a five-homer offensive breakout.

No backup plan was needed. Brandon had Tommy John surgery when he was a senior in high school, then went on to play two seasons apiece at Howard College and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. After signing with the Orioles as an undrafted free agent in 2020, he underwent Tommy John again in ‘22.

“That’s all he’s wanted to do. That’s been his focus. He’s worked harder than anybody I’ve ever seen,” Cary said. “He has gone above and beyond what anybody would have expected. Just elated that we’re here. Elated.”