Jared Young was taken off the Citi Field turf on a cart Thursday after a frightening collision with Mets pitcher Nolan McLean at first base, leaving New York without an immediate update on the first baseman’s condition.
The play unfolded in the sixth inning when Justin Crawford sent a slow grounder toward first. Young and McLean both moved to cover the bag, with neither player able to cleanly sort out the assignment before McLean’s leg struck Young in the head.
Young went down hard and remained motionless as Mets trainers and medical personnel rushed from the dugout. After receiving treatment on the field, he was placed on a cart and removed from the game. Young raised a thumb toward the crowd on his way out, a reassuring sign that he was conscious.
A sudden change at first base
Mark Vientos entered the game defensively after Young’s exit, taking over at first base.
The collision came during a season in which Young has become an important and unexpected steady presence for the Mets. Used primarily as the club’s regular first baseman, he has played in 103 games and carried a .266 batting average with a .759 OPS.
Those numbers have put Young in position to remain a significant part of the Mets’ plans at first base next season, provided he is able to return healthy from Thursday’s injury.
