1:15PM: The Nationals have now made it official, announcing that they have selected Young’s contract. In corresponding moves, infielder Jeter Downs was optioned to Triple-A Rochester and Garrett was transferred to the 60-day injured list. Garrett suffered a fractured fibula earlier this week and underwent a season-ending surgery yesterday, as Nats manager Davey Martinez informed the Washington Post’s Andrew Golden and other reporters.
11:51AM: The Nationals are calling up outfield prospect Jacob Young, according to Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post (X link). Young will be making his MLB debut whenever he appears in a game, which could be as early as today against the Marlins. The Nats will need to make at least one corresponding move, since Young isn’t on the 40-man roster.
Young is a University of Florida product who was a seventh-round pick for the Nationals in the 2021 draft. Playing in A-ball for his first two pro seasons, Young has made a quick progression in 2023, starting in high-A ball and now moving all the way up to the majors. Hitting well at both the high-A and Double-A levels, Young has only played in four Triple-A games, appearing in Rochester for the first time just earlier this week.
Over 496 total minor league plate appearances this season, Young has hit .305/.376/.418, with six homers and an impressive stolen base ratio of 39 steals against seven times caught. This comes on the heels of Young’s 52 steals (in 59 chances) at A-level Fredericksburg in 2022. Pundits rate Young as plus-plus speed, with Baseball America’s scouting report noting “some scouts called him one of the best baserunners they have ever seen.”
This skill alone makes the 24-year-old Young an interesting player to watch, though the rest of his game might need some polish. BA ranks Young 24th among Washington prospects and MLB Pipeline ranks him 30th, as Young doesn’t have much power and is reliant on his speed to beat out a grounder-heavy approach. His defense is promising, since Young has mostly played left field in the pro but has also seen time as a center fielder and right fielder, as well as a couple of games at second base.
With Stone Garrett likely out for the season due to a leg fracture, the Nationals have some need for outfield help. Young figures to join Lane Thomas, Alex Call, Jake Alu, Blake Rutherford, and utilityman Ildemaro Vargas in the outfield mix, as the rebuilding Nats continue to evaluate their young talent while quietly playing some quality baseball in recent weeks. Washington has a 24-15 record since the All-Star break.
Add him to the list of outfield depth the organization has. Excited to give him a look he’s been fantastic in the minors all season but
But he has 4 ab in AAA and was rushed to MLB he’ll hit 2-20 and be sent back down in a week
He’ll probably stay up. The Nationals are running out of healthy position players and rosters expand Sept 1.
Weird that you can see the future but use it to be a stick in the mud on a baseball website. To each their own I guess.
They want the top prospects to play everyday and they are all crowded inti AA Harrisburg’s roster. I expect them all to begin in AA next season.
Wood is going to be on the opening day roster. The draft pick compensation for a guy winning ROY is going to get a lot of teams to put top prospects on the roster and hope they can develop in the majors during the first couple weeks of the season. I wouldn’t be surprised if Crews and/or House made the roster as well.
His catch in centerfield vs Marlins 3 minutes ago probably buys him some looks.
Even counting in your jaundiced batting prediction.
Followed up by single in 9th. Pretty good start!