Young, Wild and Free: Nats rookie shows mettle with 1st career walk-off

WASHINGTON -- When prospects get called up to make their Major League debuts, it is easy to envision memorable achievements and milestones. Less than two weeks after being promoted from Triple-A Rochester, the growing display of commemorative baseballs in his locker show how quickly Jacob Young has reached many of those feats since Aug. 26.

Young added his first career walk-off hit to that list on Wednesday night in the Nationals’ 3-2 win over the Mets at Nationals Park. The 24-year-old center fielder helped snap Washington’s six-game losing skid.

“I would have been really excited [if someone told me what I would accomplish], but I don’t know if I would have believed them,” Young said. “It’s been a dream come true, and it’s been awesome. I hope to keep it going.”

A late-game rally sent the Nationals into the bottom of the ninth tied at two apiece. Carter Kieboom drew a lead-off walk against Phil Bickford, and Jake Alu was hit by a pitch. Ildemaro Vargas was able to move the runners over to second and third base with a sacrifice bunt.

Young, ranked as the Nationals’ No. 29 prospect by MLB Pipeline, already had extended his hitting streak to eight games earlier in the night. Coming up to the plate with one out and the game on the line, though, is a different scenario.

“Deep breaths, slow breaths,” Young said. “Just try to remind yourself of what your plan is and execute that plan, don’t think of the situation.”

Down 0-2 in the count, Young sent a fastball from Bickford through the middle of the infield. It was just out of reach of shortstop Francisco Lindor, bouncing into center field to drive in Kieboom for the winning run.

“He stayed in it,” said manager Dave Martinez. “He just was trying to put the ball in play. He did a great job by staying in the middle of the field and got a big hit for us.”

The Nationals rushed out onto the field to celebrate with Young at first base. Young was soaked with a Gatorade cooler and received a special adornment from the dugout.

“I would say the bubblegum [bucket] hat,” Young said of his favorite moment of the celebration.

A 2021 seventh-round pick by the Nats out of Florida, Young advanced three Minor League levels in one season to get to the Majors. He has reached base safely in his 10 career starts, and he is hitting .294 with four RBIs, four doubles and two stolen bases.

“I like how he plays,” said CJ Abrams, who drove in the game-tying run in the seventh and stole his 40th base of the season. “He plays hard and aggressive, and he’s fast. He plays a lot with our style of play. I like it a lot.”

The Nats’ sixth walk-off win of the season was made possible by contributions from several of their developing players. In the final month of the regular season, it shows the progress still being made this year and a glimpse into who could potentially play a role in 2024, too.

“What I always say is, these guys don’t give up,” said Martinez. “We’re down, and to come back and walk off a team -- especially one of our young prospects -- is awesome.”