Jacob Younger, Washington highlighted of their Season in Overview for the 2024 marketing campaign, “[led] all of MLB with 19 runs prevented and 21 outs above common, per Baseball Savant,” each of which, the Nationals famous, “… have been essentially the most in a season by any OF in MLB since 2019.”
Younger, 25, and a 2nd Spherical decide by the Nats in 2021 (out of the College of Florida), had a breakout defensive run in his second season within the majors after he debuted with 33 video games in 2023. Younger performed in 150 video games whole this previous yr, and his defensive play earned him a nod as a Gold Glove finalist within the Nationwide League.
“Amongst heart fielders,” the membership added in a press launch on Younger being named a finalist, “Younger had 4 extra runs prevented and 4 extra outs above common than his second-place counterpart [fellow NL Gold Glove nominee in center, the Rockies’ Brenton Doyle].”:
“Younger additionally led all MLB outfielders with 15 outs on balls at a 25-50 % catch likelihood and was tied for the Main League-lead with seven catches made with a 0-25 % catch likelihood.
“The speedy outfielder tied the quickest response time (ft coated within the first 1.5 seconds of alternative) within the Statcast period (2016-pres.), matching Enrique Hernández’s mark of 4.7 ft from 2021. The subsequent closest outfielder in 2024 produced simply 2.4 ft.”
“Jacob Younger, I imply, what he’s executed this yr was actually, actually, actually good,” Nats’ supervisor Davey Martinez advised reporters over the ultimate weekend of the season.
“I imply, I say this day-after-day, each time I see him, the man is a Gold Glover.”
“In line with FanGraphs,” the Nationals wrote, “… Younger additionally led all Nationwide League heart fielders (min. 1000.0 innings) in defensive ranking with a 13.4 and was tied for the lead with 11 defensive runs saved.”
The Nationals broadcast group was completely in sync on this name of Jacob Younger’s spectacular catch on the wall.
“He is right here, he is there, he is each freakin’ the place! Jacob Younger!” pic.twitter.com/E2vabGTVSa
— Terrible Saying (@awfulannouncing) August 16, 2024
GM and President of Baseball Operations Mike Rizzo advised 106.7 the FAN in D.C.’s Sports activities Junkies in late August he thought Younger established himself as an elite defender out in heart this season, and did all he wanted to as a way to win a Gold Glove.
“To me he’s the Gold Glove winner,” Rizzo advised the Junkies. “A man that simply retains enhancing, and getting higher and higher and performs day-after-day, performs nicked up, performs actually onerous within the outfield, and slams into partitions, and never afraid of fences or partitions or anything. 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 going to be a pleasant piece for us going ahead.”
Are Martinez and Rizzo proper? Did Younger earn a Gold Glove together with his defensive play in heart this season?
If he does:
“Younger appears to develop into simply the 18th rookie within the 67-year historical past of the Rawlings Gold Glove Awards to be named a recipient and simply the seventh to win as an outfielder.”
