Jacob Young (baseball)

Jacob Young
Young with the Washington Nationals in 2024
Washington Nationals – No. 30
Center fielder
Born: (1999-07-27) July 27, 1999 (age 25)
Ponte Vedra, Florida, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 26, 2023, for the Washington Nationals
MLB statistics
(through September 18, 2024)
Batting average.254
Home runs3
Runs batted in47
Stolen bases45
Teams

Jacob Samuel Young (born July 27, 1999) is an American professional baseball center fielder for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2023.

Amateur career

Young attended Ponte Vedra High School in Nocatee, Florida, and the University of Florida, where he played college baseball for the Florida Gators.[1] In 131 games across three seasons with the Gators, Young batted .330 with eight home runs and 28 doubles.[2] The Washington Nationals selected him in the seventh round, with the 203rd overall selection, of the 2021 Major League Baseball draft.[3]

Professional career

Young made his professional debut with the Single–A Fredericksburg Nationals, slashing .208/.283/.267 with 5 RBI and 13 stolen bases in 26 appearances.[4] Young returned to Fredericksburg in 2022, playing in 115 games and hitting .262/.360/.331 with 2 home runs, 46 RBI, and 52 stolen bases.[5]

Young began the 2023 season with the High–A Wilmington Blue Rocks, batting .307/.383/.401 with 2 home runs, 28 RBI, and 22 stolen bases in 56 games. On June 17, 2023, he was promoted to the Double–A Harrisburg Senators.[6] In 52 games for the Senators, he hit .304/.374/.431 with 3 home runs, 28 RBI, and 17 stolen bases. On August 20, Young was promoted to the Triple–A Rochester Red Wings.[7]

After playing four games with Rochester, the Nationals announced that Young would be promoted to the major leagues for the first time on August 26, 2023.[8] In 33 games during his rookie campaign, he batted .252/.322/.336 with no home runs, 12 RBI, and 13 stolen bases. He also showed strong defense.[9] Young was optioned to Triple–A Rochester to begin the 2024 season.[10]

On April 4, 2024, Young was recalled to Washington. He batted .256/.316/.331, with three home runs, 36 RBIs, and 33 stolen bases (5th in the National League). His 11 bunt hits led MLB, his 9 sacrifice hits were second in the NL, his .075 Isolated Power and .331 slugging percentage were the lowest in MLB, and his 35.6% balls hit to the opposite field were the highest among MLB batters.[11]

Personal life

On December 10, 2022, Young got engaged to Caroline.[12] The couple got married on December 9, 2023.[13]

References

  1. ^ Boyle, Chris (July 12, 2021). "Jacob Young, Ponte Vedra and Florida Gators star, selected by Washington Nationals in 7th round of MLB draft". St. Augustine Record.
  2. ^ "Jacob Young College & Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  3. ^ Huber, Zachary (July 12, 2021). "Jacob Young drafted by the Washington Nationals in 7th round". gatorswire.usatoday.com. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  4. ^ "Jacob Young - Stats - Batting". fangraphs.com. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  5. ^ "Nationals' Jacob Young Speeds Into First Full Season". baseballamerica.com. October 10, 2022. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  6. ^ "Down on the farm: Blair Calvo traded to Tigers; Jacob Young promoted to Double-A". news4jax.com. June 22, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  7. ^ "Nationals are promoting outfielder Dylan Crews to Class AA Harrisburg". washingtonpost.com. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  8. ^ "Nationals Select Jacob Young, Transfer Stone Garrett to 60-Day IL". August 26, 2023.
  9. ^ "Jacob Young Stats: Statcast, Visuals & Advanced Metrics". baseballsavant.com. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  10. ^ "Late-night cuts leave Nats with only one more roster decision". masnsports.com. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  11. ^ "2024 Major League Leaders," Fangraphs.
  12. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  13. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved June 17, 2024.