| Jacob Young | |
| Team: | Washington Nationals |
| Number: | 30 |
| Position: | Center fielder |
| Birth Date: | 27 July 1999 |
| Birth Place: | Ponte Vedra, Florida, U.S. |
| Bats: | Right |
| Throws: | Right |
| Debutleague: | MLB |
| Debutdate: | August 26 |
| Debutyear: | 2023 |
| Debutteam: | Washington Nationals |
| Statleague: | MLB |
| Statyear: | 2024 season |
| Stat1label: | Batting average |
| Stat1value: | .256 |
| Stat2label: | Home runs |
| Stat2value: | 3 |
| Stat3label: | Runs batted in |
| Stat3value: | 48 |
| Stat4label: | Stolen bases |
| Stat4value: | 46 |
| Teams: |
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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.
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]
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]
On December 10, 2022, Young got engaged to Caroline.[12] The couple got married on December 9, 2023.[13]