For one unforgettable night in Houston, Brandon Young looked like a star in the making. The Baltimore Orioles rookie flirted with perfection, carrying a perfect game into the eighth inning against the Astros before it was broken up by former Oriole Ramon Urías on an infield single. It was the kind of performance that instantly grabbed headlines and stirred up hype, especially considering where it happened.

At just five years old, Young attended his very first ballgame at the Astros’ home park, known as Minute Maid Park back then, now Daikin Park. Fast forward two decades, and the 26-year-old was back on that very mound, this time dominating the home team in front of friends and family. It was a storybook setting for a pitcher who wasn’t even supposed to be here yet.

Brandon Young nearly made history, but consistency is the question for Orioles rookie

Let’s not forget: Young’s promotion to the majors came earlier than planned, largely out of necessity. The Orioles’ rotation was gutted by injuries, and while Young was thriving in the minors, the expectation was that he’d continue sharpening his craft in Triple-A before seeing big league hitters. Instead, Baltimore threw him into the fire, asking him to learn on the job.

That’s why his perfect game bid was both thrilling and deceptive. Yes, he showcased the potential that made scouts rave, but the larger body of work tells a different story. Over his first 11 big league starts, Young has struggled to consistently fool hitters. His wOBA allowed sits at .364 — bottom 7% in the league. His ERA (5.68) looks ugly, and even the expected numbers don’t paint a rosy picture. His xERA is 4.17, better, but still firmly in the “work in progress” range.

Digging deeper, the issues are clear. Hitters aren’t chasing enough against him, reflected in his 8.7% walk rate. When they do connect, they’re making loud contact, his barrel percentage of 9.8% leaves little margin for error. In other words, Young has yet to show he can consistently miss bats or limit damage.

So, did Young catch lightning in a bottle against Houston? Maybe. Metrics say yes. But what’s certain is that the next test comes quickly. His very next start is scheduled for August 21, this time back home at Camden Yards against those same Astros. Only now, Houston hitters will walk in with fresh memories of what Young brought to the table. They’ll be determined not to get fooled twice.

For the Orioles, this is where the evaluation really begins. Was that dazzling night in Houston the arrival of something special, or just a blip on an otherwise bumpy rookie season? Fans are desperate to believe the former, and nobody’s rooting for him harder than them.

But fair or not, Brandon Young still has a lot to prove.