The Nationals have hired Eric Young Jr. as their new first base coach. The news was revealed by Young’s father, Braves first base coach Eric Young Sr., who was speaking with reporter Jose de Jesus Ortiz (Twitter link) prior to Game 1 of the World Series. Young Jr. will replace Randy Knorr, who was reassigned to a player development role earlier this month after spending the 2021 season as Washington’s first base coach.
This is the first big league coaching role for Young, who spent the 2021 season on the coaching staff of the Mariners’ Triple-A affiliate in Tacoma. The 36-year-old is only two years removed from the end of his playing career, as Young played with Triple-A Tacoma and in the Mexican League in 2019. He was set to return to the Mexican League in 2020 before the season was canceled due to the pandemic.
Young is a veteran of 10 MLB seasons, spending the bulk of his career with the Rockies (313 games from 2009-13) and the Mets (209 games in two separate stints). While he had only a couple of above-average seasons at the plate, Young was a feared baserunner in his prime, including a 2013 season that saw him lead the National League with 46 stolen bases.
2013 was also Young’s only season as a true everyday player, as he spent much of his career as a part-timer capable of providing speed off the bench and filling in at all three outfield positions, as well as second base early in his career. Given this track record, it is probably safe to assume that Young will also assume some responsibilities as a baserunning and/or outfield coach in D.C. Those roles were previously filled by Knorr and former third base coach Bob Henley.
The third base coaching job is the last vacancy remaining on the Nationals’ staff, with Young now in the fold to replace Knorr. The Nats already made a switch at hitting coach, hiring Darnell Coles after Kevin Long left to assume hitting coach duties with the Phillies.
Eric Young rejects Mets POBO position
No. no, that was Might Joe Young…
You are just aping him.
36 year old first base coach? I wonder how well that will go over when he’s giving advice to older players. Especially the few older players who were actually better base runners than him. He was a good base runner but there are definitely some that were better. Maybe the Nats don’t have any. It would be funny if the Nats signed someone like Marte and we ended up watching a guy only a year or 2 older than him trying to tell him how to run the bases like he doesn’t already know himself. I think he’ll be solid though if the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. I’ve heard nothing but positives about his dad and a 46 SB season is nothing to sneeze at especially when you can do that without having the bat to rely on to get you on base constantly.
@missed war. Since Eric Young Jr was a player it will probably go over well. In a couple of years he will be older than most players anyways. Some of these coaches/managers have little to almost no MLB playing experience these days anyway. Some of these managers I’ve never even heard of till MLBTR announces so and so got whatever MLB manager job. I know wherever I’ve worked the smart younger employee sits back and try’s to glean info and advice from senior employees.
I wish EYJ the best of luck in his new position.
Lol
His dad should be Eric OLD Sr hahahahhaha
I see what ya did there!
You know you’re old when you remember BOTH Eric Young-s as players….
You know your old when you remember Sr.’s rookie year and now see his son retiring and coaching
That isn’t old. Old is remembering Joe DiMaggio’s rookie season
Old is remembering the brand of flour sacks that Abner Doubleday used for bases back in my childhood. Y’all can’t touch me
I didn’t even realize they were two different players. Six or seven years back, I was amazed that Eric Young was still playing, before realizing it was his son. Similar type players, and there was a crossover year when they both were in the majors.
Actually, Jr. was still in the minors during Sr.’s last season.
C’mon. I remember Mark Fydrich rookie season like it was yesterday and no one who knows me calls me old.
EY was a serious lead off force on those expansion Rockie teams. Not the best defensive 2B, however.
dad must be proud!
Any one have an idea of what kind of salary comes with roles like this? Just curious
Real good guy! Wishing him success!
As for the Mets? Nothing Nothing Nothing!!!! Not even a crumb !!!!!
Baserunning coach maybe, but for an outfield coach I would think they would want someone who wasn’t a defensive liability out there.
But he seems to be a good guy, so best wishes for his coaching career.
You know you’re old when you’re annoyed by how many comments there are on a thread about a 1b coach. And especially so when you’ve realized how much time you’ve spent reading them and missing Jerry Springer reruns.
But I’m not as old as my dad who couldn’t figure out the internet enough to find this thread let alone the website.
Or my grandad, who’s so old that he’s dead.
Get off my lawn!