Whereas he didn’t win the NL Gold Glove in middle area, Jacob Younger did shine within the outfield this previous season, with, as his membership famous within the Washington Nationals’ Season in Evaluation, the 25-year-old, 2021 seventh Spherical decide, “… [leading] all of MLB with 21 outs above common and 19 runs prevented,” in middle, “in keeping with Baseball Savant.”
Each Younger’s outs above common and his runs prevented, “… have been essentially the most in a season by any OF in MLB since 2019.”
On the basepaths, Younger led the group in stolen bases (33), which have been, “… tied for essentially the most amongst Main League rookies and tied for essentially the most by a rookie in Nationals’ historical past with Trea Turner (33 in 2016).”
Younger additionally began the season with a streak of stolen bases with out getting caught to start out his MLB profession which stretched again to his massive league debut on August 29, 2023, with 25-straight earlier than he was lastly caught making an attempt to swipe one on Might 1st.
The 25-game streak, “… is tied for the fourth-longest streak to start out a profession in MLB historical past.”
Younger, making good use of his velocity, “led MLB with 11 bunt hits,” on the season too, one thing GM and President of Baseball Ops in D.C. Mike Rizzo famous in praising the outfielder late this previous summer time.
Whereas the group is brimming with outfield expertise, Rizzo mentioned Younger has performed his method into a task within the majors.
“He’s confirmed to me that he’s main league-worthy and there’s a spot on this group for him,” Rizzo instructed Audacy’s The Sports activities Junkies in August.
“I feel that his offense has improved over the course of this season. And he’s obtained to see extra pitches, take extra walks, get extra bunt hits – he leads the league in bunt hits — I feel… and leads the league with infield hits. He’s an elite runner and an elite defender and an elite base runner and base stealer.
“In order that’s a variety of abilities that profitable ballclubs make use of. He’s turned himself into an actual asset for us and a man that’s going to be part of the longer term.”
Younger completed the yr at .256/.316/.331 with 24 doubles, a triple, three house runs, the 33 stolen bases (in 43 makes an attempt), 30 walks, and 102 strikeouts in his 150 video games and 521 plate appearances, over which he was value 2.6 fWAR.
It was, after all, his protection and sturdiness which stood out for the Nationals’ GM.
“[Young is],” Rizzo instructed the Junkies, “a man that simply retains bettering, and getting higher and higher and performs daily. Performs nicked up, performs actually arduous within the outfield and slams into partitions and never afraid of fences or partitions or the rest. We’re actually pleased with him, from the place he’s come from, a seventh-round decide, that’s actually blossomed into one thing that’s actually gonna be a pleasant piece for us going ahead.”
“Younger, I imply, what he’s completed this yr was actually, actually, actually good,” supervisor Davey Martinez mentioned in September.
“I imply, I say this daily, each time I see him, the man is a Gold Glover. And his hitting goes to get rather a lot higher.”
Younger is aware of he must make progress on the plate, as he instructed reporters, as quoted by MASN’s Mark Zuckerman:
“Protection can positively assist, however everybody has to hit,” Younger acknowledged. “There’s a variety of nice defenders on the market who didn’t keep within the league as a result of they couldn’t hit. It’s one thing you’ve simply obtained to do. In fact I need to be seen as not only a defender. I need to be seen as a man who can play daily and produce offense, too. Clearly, baserunning goes into a variety of that, too. However with the ability to produce with the bat itself is large.”
