Good chance it is Robinia pseudoacacia.

I've never seen thorns so random on a Robinia.

Zanthoxylum americanum? I know they're typically warty but perhaps yours
are secondary sprouts?

Here is a link that might be useful: Zanthoxylum americanum

A small Robinia would be my guess. Tree is less than 2 years old. And no borers in it yet? Around here they are bug ridden by the time they grow the first side branches.

Thank you for your time and suggestions. Black locust are reasonably common trees here. I love their fragrant springtime blooms and the number of locust trees around becomes really obvious at those times. I don't think I've ever seen the young trees here look like this but perhaps I've just missed seeing them at this stage.

Borers? We have enough with the emerald ash borer here. We don't need other ones. As far as I know, the locust borer isn't a problem here but I could be wrong.

Prickly ash would be an interesting one since I've never come across that one before that I know of. I'll have to see if I can find the tree again after May so I can see/photograph the leaves. Thanks!

FataMorgana

Any chance it could be Devil's Walkingstick, Aralia spinosa?

Here is a link that might be useful: Aralia spinosa bark

I saw many Robinia pseudoacacia seedlings over the years where I grew up in zone 6. The OP reminds me a lot of them. They are much thornier when young. Check out these links...

Here is a link that might be useful: Robinia tree when young

You can compare the stems on your specimen...

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:373862}}

Excellent links. Thank you so much for the follow-up!

FataMorgana