Jared Young has been flashing leather at first, and he'll now be the New York Mets starter there.
New York Mets interim manager Andy Green made one of his first big moves over the weekend as he announced that Jared Young will be the Mets starting first baseman, taking what Green called the “lion’s share” of the at-bats at first, according to a report from Bill Ladson of MLB.com.
Young was supposed to be a temporary fill-in who could step into the void during the Mets’ run of injuries, but he’s turned out to be much more than that. He’s flashed plenty of leather, including some plays over the weekend against the Philadelphia Phillies that got Green’s attention.
“He has been phenomenal,” Green said. “I don’t think the public knew what a blow that was to our club when he went down [with a torn meniscus], especially with the timing and health of everyone else.”
What Green didn’t say was just as important. The Mets have used six first baseman this season, and they won’t be using the one who has hurt them the most defensively. That would be Mark Vientos, who has cost the Mets multiple games with a lethal combination of poor positioning and subpar fielding.
In making this move, Green also showed he’s willing to do what his predecessor wouldn’t. Newly-fired manager Carlos Mendoza provided tepid criticism of Vientos’s defense, but he kept running him out there to give away games.
Green also acknowledged the obvious side of this move given the way Young has been playing.
“I would be a fool to change that one,” said Green when asked about Young’s status as the new starter. “He will be out there consistently. There are opportunities for other players, especially against certain types of left-handed pitching, to get over there … and play a little bit. But he is locking down a lion's share of at-bats over there.”
Green also has an advantage here because he’s familiar with Young’s work. He was a coach with the Chicago Cubs when Young came off the bench in 2022 and 2023, according to Ladson, and he acknowledged Young’s primary strength.
“I always believed his bat is real,” Green said. “It’s fun for the rest of the world to get the opportunity to see that. He is a tremendous teammate, cares about winning, smiles through adversity and he continues to work.
“[Young] is the kind of guy you just love having on a baseball team. He can hit and do damage. There is a lot to like. He is defending the position well. It has been fun [seeing him] make those highlight plays.”
