On new teams, Young, Hicks face challenges

BOSTON — Chris Young is biding his time right now with the Red Sox and watching his former team, the Yankees, struggle on the other side of the field.

“They’ve got a good ballclub,” Young said this weekend when told that New York’s 8-15 start was its worst since 1984. “It’s still early in the season. I wouldn’t jump to any conclusions. It’s too early.”

Young played well in the eight months the Yankees utilized him as a backup left fielder, but they let him go to free agency after last season. Right now, he’s been the odd man out in the young Red Sox outfield behind Brock Holt, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Mookie Betts.

In both cases, the right-handed-hitting Young was a victim of circumstances. In New York, the Yanks wanted to get younger, and they replaced the 32-year-old Young with the 26-year-old switch-hitting Aaron Hicks.

In Boston, the Red Sox have only faced two left-handed starting pitchers 25 games into the season. Young didn’t get a single moment of play this weekend as his new team swept his old one in a three-game series at Fenway Park. But that’s about to change, Red Sox manager John Farrell said on Sunday.

“Well, we’ve got three left-handed pitchers coming up in Chicago, so Chris is going to get plenty of at-bats,” Farrell said.

The Red Sox travel to Chicago to face the surging White Sox, and indeed, left-handers Jose Quintana, John Danks and Carlos Rodon are slated to start in the three-game series that opens on Tuesday night.

Young has only had 27 at-bats (four hits) in 16 of Boston’s first 25 games. He said, though, he’s trying to stay ready, hoping his time will come.

“I haven’t been used much yet, but I know circumstances will change and that will happen,” Young said. “I’m just coming to the ballpark every day to work hard and with a good attitude.”

Right now, the Young-for-Hicks exchange …

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