40 in 40: Jacob Young
The young outfielder may have to wait until mid-season to continue his major league career.
Editors Note: This is the latest in our player profile in our 40-man breakdown series that we have started here at the Nats Report. Check out our other player profiles.
Jacob Young
- Position: Outfielder
- Current status: Pre-arbitration (Arb eligible in 2027, free agent in 2030)
- How acquired: Drafted in the 7th Round of the 2021 MLB Draft
- 2023 Grade: A+
- 2024 Opening Day Projection: Triple-A Rochester Red Wings
- 2023 stats: 33 G | 121 PA | .252/.322/.336 | .658 OPS | 13 SB 0 CS | 3 OAA | 0.7 fWAR | 0.6 bWAR
2023 Analysis: An A+ on Jacob Young’s (The Nats Report #17 Prospect) season feels like an understatement. Heading into the 2023 season, Young was at best considered a sleeper prospect, someone not on any top 30 lists but showed some decent tools. He held his own in Low-A Fredricksburg, but you would expect more from a 22-year-old repeating the level.
But in 2023, he crushed it. He hit as many home runs (2) as he had in 2022 in half the at-bats while playing for High-A Wilmington. The Nationals rewarded him by promoting him to Double-A, where he hit three more in 52 games. The Nats gave him a four-game cup of coffee in Triple-A before calling him up for his major league debut, where he flashed those very same tools (great baserunning and defense in the outfield) that made him a sleeper prospect to quickly cement himself as a contender for the center field spot in 2024.
2024 Outlook:
Although he flew through the minors in 2023, it looks like Young will return to Triple-A to start 2024. The incumbent Victor Robles has looked good in spring training games so far, and with how crowded the outfield is becoming, especially with recent signings like Eddie Rosario, the Nationals don’t have room for Young. If Robles struggles or gets hurt, expect Young to get the first call to replace him.
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