Former Cubs prospect Jared Young suffers scary injury during Mets-Phillies game

There are certain instances, sometimes, unfortunate, that serve as a reminder that things happen during the course of a baseball game that can suddenly make the result feel irrelevant. That was case on Thursday night when former Chicago Cubs prospect Jared Young had to be carted off the field after a collision with Nolan McLean at first base.

An infield dribbler hit by Justin Crawford was hit in no man's land between the pitching mound and first base, resulting in both Young and McLean making a last-ditch effort to field the ball. The result was McLean hitting Young in the head at full force. The immediate moments following collision were frightening, considering Young was laying motionless on the ground.

Young was able to gesture a thumbs up as the medical cart was leaving the field, and further reporting confirmed that he had feeling in his extremities. After the game, interim Mets manager Andy Green revealed that Young was experiencing concussion symptoms.

Given what professional sports have become, and the more awareness surrounding head injuries, a concussion should never be taken lightly. But, considering the other outcomes that could have been involved with the collision, the Mets are hopeful they've avoided the scarier alternatives.

Since his brief run with the Cubs, Jared Young has carved out a home with the Mets

Young was drafted by the Cubs in the later rounds of the 2017 MLB Draft, and made his debut with the team in 2022, collecting six hits across 22 plate appearances. He made a cameo with the team in 2023, playing in 16 games, but went overseas in 2024 before returning to the majors with the Mets last season.

After the Mets parted ways with Pete Alonso last offseason, a decision that has returned to the news cycle over the past week, Young finally had a clear path to playing time this season. He was making the most of it, slashing .266/.330/.429 with a wRC+ of 111 through 342 plate appearances. While the Mets face uncertainty after this season, it was starting to look like Young would be a piece of their puzzle moving forward.

The hope is that Young can have successful recovery, and be in a position to have a healthy offseason. Chances are unlikely that Young makes a return within the next week, but assuming there's no underlying concern, he should be in a position to be a contributor for the Mets next season.

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