WEST PALM BEACH, FL - Jacob Young has arrived at this year’s Nationals Spring Training looking, well, big. "Big, muscular," commented manager Dave Martinez. While Young claims his weight is roughly the same as last year, Martinez noted, "You know, what's funny is that he is, maybe, a couple of pounds heavier." This isn't new. "He was this way too last spring," Martinez explained. "You know, he just, over the course of the year, he loses so much weight, you know, we got a couple of guys like that. So, he comes to spring training, and, well, I told him, I said, hey, you do you, you know your body better than I do. Be flexible, be agile, right? That's what he needs to do."

Maintaining the right physique is crucial for a player whose game revolves around agility and speed. Martinez understands this, saying, "For somebody whose game is specifically about agility and speed, you almost have to caution that, you don't have to be that bulky. Do what you're good at." He recalled a similar conversation from the previous spring: "Yeah, you know, as I said, last year, he was the same way in spring training because I even said, I said, hey bud, I said, you're big. He would do it every year and said, by the end of spring training, I just don't. And I said, all right, you know, just make sure that you're, you know, you're agile, and you can still throw, swing, and run." The key, as Martinez emphasizes, is maintaining that balance between strength and athleticism.

Beyond his physical attributes, Young's role on the team is clear. "Yeah, I write his name in the lineup because I know what I'm going to get from Jacob every day," Martinez stated. "And he's going to give me everything he's got, no matter what. Whether it's defense, whether it's, you know, trying to get on base, whatever it is, steal the base, I know what I'm going to get." This reliability is invaluable to a manager.

Martinez's confidence in Young extends to his defensive abilities as well. "He's our center fielder," Martinez declared. "And he saves a lot of runs for us." He even made a strong case for Young earning Gold Glove recognition last season: "I know I've told you guys this before, and you know, maybe I'm just telling the league, he should have been a gold glover. He really should have been. He was that good last year, so I tell him, hey, do it again, right? Go out there and do it again, and let's see if we can get you that gold glove."

Jacob Young put up historically great defensive numbers last season. Baseball Savant credited him with 20 Outs Above Average, tying for the MLB lead. His 18 Runs Prevented were the most in the majors and the highest since 2019. FanGraphs further confirmed his dominance, ranking him first among NL center fielders in Defensive Rating (13.4) and tying him for the lead in Defensive Runs Saved (11).

Jacob Young has clearly established himself as a vital part of the Nationals. His dedication, consistent effort, and defensive prowess make him a valuable asset. As he heads into the new season, the Nationals are counting on him to continue his strong performance and perhaps finally earn the Gold Glove recognition he deserves.