Right this moment’s sport between the Nationals and the Orioles included a scary second the place Nats heart fielder Jacob Younger crashed into the outfield wall at full velocity and went down, as famous by Spencer Nausbaum of the Washington Submit. He ultimately departed the sport with a left shoulder damage and was changed by Alex Name within the outfield. Fortuitously, Nausbaum was amongst these to notice after the sport that x-rays on Younger’s shoulder got here again adverse. The 25-year-old’s standing stays unsure forward of additional analysis tomorrow, however it’s undeniably a superb omen for the membership on the heels of an thrilling win over Baltimore.
Younger, 25, hasn’t hit a lot in his second season as a daily fixture of the Nationals lineup. Throughout 124 plate appearances this season, he’s posted a meager slash line of simply .215/.300/.252 with zero residence runs and simply 4 doubles. Regardless of that lackluster efficiency on the dish, nonetheless, Younger has largely made up for it with elite protection and base operating. Younger has been within the 88th percentile relating to worth on the basepaths this yr in accordance with Statcast even regardless of his league-leading 4 failed stolen base makes an attempt. The protection has been almost nearly as good, as his +2 Outs Above Common leaves him tied for sixth amongst NL heart fielders with different sturdy defenders like Brenton Doyle and Johan Rojas.
With James Wooden and Dylan Crews within the outfield corners each day and Name posting a stable 114 wRC+ in part-time obligation, Younger might must hit extra with a view to hold himself within the lineup frequently within the long-term, significantly with prospect Robert Hassell III starting to hit on the Triple-A stage this yr. For now, nonetheless, the Nationals will certainly content material themselves with a fast return to motion for his or her heart fielder, on condition that the lack of Younger would probably power Crews to slip over to heart subject on a extra common foundation. With Crews scuffling badly on the plate himself up to now within the yr, the Nats would absolutely choose to keep away from placing extra tasks on his plate at this level.
Extra from across the NL East…
The Mets optioned infielder Ronny Mauricio to Triple-A immediately after ending his rehab project on the Double-A stage. As famous by Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, the transfer is basically procedural in nature on condition that Mauricio was already within the minors. Mauricio missed your entire 2024 season after struggling a torn ACL throughout winter ball, and he’s appeared in simply ten video games within the minors thus far this yr as he works his approach again in control with 5 video games at Single-A and 5 video games at Double-A. Now, Mauricio is about to complete getting again into type with the membership’s Syracuse affiliate. Given he’s hitting simply .125/.176/.188 with a 35.9% strikeout price thus far this yr, it’s protected to say that Mauricio continues to be targeted on restoration at this level and sure gained’t be a sensible massive league possibility for the Mets for a while but.
The Marlins, in the meantime, have been with out shortstop Xavier Edwards within the lineup for 2 days now because of again soreness. Craig Mish of the Miami Herald relayed immediately that, in accordance with supervisor Clayton McCullough, Edwards underwent imaging that “got here out OK” and that Edwards was slated to renew baseball actions immediately. It’s unclear if Edwards is predicted to return to the lineup tomorrow, but when a visit to the injured record is being thought of that will be a super time to decide seeing as a hypothetical IL stint could possibly be backdated due Could 16 if it started tomorrow. Edwards was one of many membership’s higher hitters in 70 video games final yr however has hit simply .263/.337/.292 up to now within the 2025 marketing campaign. Javier Sanoja is filling in at shortstop whereas Edwards is out of fee.
