Jacob Samuel Young...Graduated from Ponte Vedra High School...Attended the University of Florida...Got married to wife, Caroline, following 2023 season...Played two seasons at Florida...Ranked among SEC hitters in doubles (T5th, 16), stolen bases (T8th, 13), hits (T10th, 80) and runs (T10th, 56) in 2021...His seven outfield assists ranked second in the conference.
2024
Proved himself as the top defensive center fielder in Major League Baseball according to Statcast, leading all players in outs above average (21) and runs prevented (19)...Led Major League Baseball with 11 bunt hits...Finished first on the club and fifth overall in the National League with 33 stolen bases...Was 11-for-12 when stealing third base...His 21 outs above average and 19 runs prevented were the most in a season by any outfielder since 2019...Ranked among NL rookies in runs (fourth), hits (fifth), doubles (sixth), walks (sixth), batting average (seventh) and on-base percentage (seventh)...One of five rookie outfielders in the Nationals history (2005-present) to record 20 or more doubles in a season, joining Victor Robles in 2019, Juan Soto in 2018, Bryce Harper in 2012 and Brian Goodwin in 2017...Was one of nine players in Major League Baseball to hit at least .255 with 70 runs scored and 30 stolen bases...Hit his first career home run off Jesús Luzardo on June 16 against Miami...Finished the season with three homers...Slashed .283/.340/.352 with seven doubles, one home run, 13 RBI and nine walks against left-handed pitching...His 150 games played were the fifth-most in a season by a Nationals rookie (2005-present) and the most since Victor Robles in 2019.
2023
Advanced through three levels of Washington’s system on his way to his Major League debut on Aug. 26 at Miami...Stole 13 bases in 33 games during his rookie season...No other player in Major League Baseball recorded more than 13 stolen bases in fewer than 50 games played in 2023...Only Los Angeles Angels infielder Andrew Velasquez came close, with 13 stolen bases in 54 games played...Became the first player in Nationals history (2005-pres.) to make his MLB debut as a pinch runner and score a run...Recorded his first Major League hit on Aug. 29 at Toronto (bunt single)…In that game, he became the first player in Nationals history (2005-pres.) to have his first MLB hit, stolen base and outfield assist in the same game...Threw out Alejandro Kirk at home plate in one of the best throws of the season...Reached base safely in 24 of 31 starts...Recorded his first walk-off hit on Sept. 6 vs. New York (NL)…Became one of three Nationals (2005-pres.) to steal two bases in a game in back-to-back games (9/29-30) joining Trea Turner and Nyjer Morgan...On Sept. 30 at Atlanta, he stole the 124th base of the Nationals season, the most in a single season in Nationals history (2005-pres.)…Ranked in Washington’s Minor League system in average (second, .305), on-base percentage (second, .376), hits (second, 132) and stolen bases (second, 39)…Hit .305 with 21 doubles, five triples, six homers, 58 RBI, 42 walks, 39 stolen bases and 60 runs scored in 112 games between the three levels.
2022
Washington’s Minor League Baserunner of the Year...Was one of two players in Minor League Baseball to steal at least 50 bases and score at least 100 runs...His 118 runs were tied for the most in all of Minor League Baseball, while his 52 stolen bases were the most among Nationals Minor Leaguers...Led Fredericksburg and ranked third in the Carolina League with 122 hits...Also ranked among Nationals farmhands in triples (T2nd, 8), on-base percentage (3rd, .360), hits (4th, 122) and walks (4th, 59)...Recorded four stolen bases on April 24 at Kannapolis (CWS), tied for the most in a single game of any Minor Leaguer in Washington’s system in 2022.