WASHINGTON -- As center fielder Victor Robles darted from first base to third on a drizzly evening at Nationals Park, he suddenly felt discomfort in his left leg. It was just the second inning of the Nationals’ win over the Pirates on Wednesday, and he wanted to continue playing despite grimacing on his way back to the dugout. Nationals manager Dave Martinez hoped it was nothing, but he kept Robles out of the game to be cautious.

“It turned out to be something,” Martinez said prior to the Nats’ 7-4 loss to the Pirates on Thursday.

MRI results revealed a left hamstring strain, and Robles was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday morning. Robles had pushed himself to be ready for a full season after being limited to 36 games in 2023 due to back spasms. He was poised for a comeback season, hitting .368 during Spring Training, and Martinez liked what he had seen.

“He was in a good place and he was playing well,” Martinez said. “Things we talked about over the years, he was finally starting to get.”

Disappointed, Robles is focused on strengthening and healing his hamstring.

“It saddens me, especially since I put so much effort into keeping my body physically fit,” Robles said through translator Octavio Martinez.

To fill the outfield vacancy, the Nationals made their second call of the season to Triple-A Rochester. Outfielder Jacob Young, the Nationals’ No. 18 prospect per MLB Pipeline, received word Wednesday night from Red Wings manager Matthew LeCroy that he was selected to rejoin the Nats’ outfield mix.

“I got a call from the manager saying, ‘Did you see what happened?’’’ Young said. “They told me the flights were sketchy with all the weather up there. … My wife was with me and we left [Thursday] morning.”

Young and his wife, Caroline, packed up the car and began the six-hour drive to D.C. just in time to avoid the snow in Rochester. They arrived at 10 a.m., and he was in the starting lineup in center field that afternoon against the Pirates.

“I’m sure my wife is on three or four [cups of coffee],” he said. “I got a lot of sleep so I’m feeling great. Hopefully, she’s taking a nap in the hotel room.”

Young rejoined the Nationals a different player than when he debuted last Aug. 26, after ascending from High-A in one season. He has 33 games of Major League experience, batting .252 and recording 81 putouts in 84 total chances. Young continued to improve his offense in camp, hitting .304 in spring, while his defense remained strong. He totaled 18 outfield putouts in 19 chances during 20 Grapefruit League appearances.

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Like he did last season, the right-handed-hitting Young will have the opportunity to earn starting time in center field. Martinez has been tabbing lefty hitters Eddie Rosario and Jesse Winker in center and left against right-handed pitchers.

“I want to utilize all those guys and I want Jacob -- he’s one of our younger guys -- I want him to play as well,” Martinez said. “[He] can play all three outfield positions, he can come off the bench and play defense for us when he’s not starting, he can steal a base for us when he’s not starting.”

Young had not appeared in a game since Sunday because of inclement weather in New York, but he played a complete game for the Nationals on Thursday and is still in pursuit of his first hit of the season after going 0-for-4.

“It’s his first day playing in a while,” Martinez said. “He’ll get back in that groove, but he showed me last year that he can play up here … He’ll be ready to play again in a couple of days.”

Although Young, 24, is looking for his first full season in the pros and Robles, 26, is a World Series champion and two-time Gold Glove Award finalist, Martinez describes Young’s skill set as similar to that of Robles. Last season, Young had an average sprint speed of 30.0 ft/sec, which is considered “elite.” In comparison, Robles ran an average of 29.2 ft/sec in his first full season in 2019.

Martinez is excited to watch how Young plays in his second stint with the Nationals while Robles recovers.

“I explained to [Young] already, 'Just be you, don’t try to do too much,'” Martinez said. “He’s a smart baserunner and plays the outfield really well. He understands what he needs to do at the plate.”