The Washington Nationals are taking on the New York Mets on Monday with the goal of advancing to a 24-24 record. However, early in the contest, the club lost outfielder Jacob Young for the rest of the game after taking a 93 mph fastball directly in the ribs.
In the bottom of the second inning, with two outs, Mets pitcher Christian Scott hurled a fastball up and in. Only, it was a bit too up and in. The baseball sailed directly at Young's ribs, making a loud “thump” on contact. Young, who is 26 years old, fell to the ground in pain immediately and was removed from the matchup.
Jacob Young was in serious pain and had to leave the game after taking a pitch to the ribs pic.twitter.com/KzR3mMRXsF
— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) May 18, 2026
Nationals manager Blake Butera replaced Young with Joey Wiemer at center field. The severity of Young's injury is currently unknown, as the club will likely wait for what doctors say about his ribs before announcing his official status. Look for the club to provide more details regarding Young's health in the coming days.
The four-year veteran has been a bit cold at the plate to begin the 2026 campaign. He entered Monday's contest against the Mets with a .224 batting average and .275 OBP, which are both career lows. Jacob Young hit those numbers, recording 35 hits, five home runs, and 21 RBIs through 156 at-bats.
Jacob Young made his major league debut in 2023 with Washington after being a seventh-round selection by the organization in the 2021 MLB Draft. The former Florida Gator earned his way to the Nationals roster after owning a .274 batting average and .359 OBP at the minor league level. He has remained in the majors since 2024.
