NL East Notes: Young, Mauricio, Edwards

At the moment’s recreation between the Nationals and the Orioles included a scary second the place Nats heart fielder Jacob Younger crashed into the outfield wall at full velocity and went down, as famous by Spencer Nausbaum of the Washington Submit. He finally departed the sport with a left shoulder damage and was changed by Alex Name within the outfield. Luckily, Nausbaum was amongst these to notice after the sport that x-rays on Younger’s shoulder got here again detrimental. The 25-year-old’s standing stays unsure forward of additional analysis tomorrow, nevertheless it’s undeniably a very good omen for the membership on the heels of an thrilling win over Baltimore.

Younger, 25, hasn’t hit a lot in his second season as an everyday fixture of the Nationals lineup. Throughout 124 plate appearances this season, he’s posted a meager slash line of simply .215/.300/.252 with zero house runs and simply 4 doubles. Regardless of that lackluster efficiency on the dish, nonetheless, Younger has largely made up for it with elite protection and base operating. Younger has been within the 88th percentile in relation to worth on the basepaths this yr in accordance with Statcast even regardless of his league-leading 4 failed stolen base makes an attempt. The protection has been practically nearly as good, as his +2 Outs Above Common leaves him tied for sixth amongst NL heart fielders with different robust defenders like Brenton Doyle and Johan Rojas.

With James Wooden and Dylan Crews within the outfield corners every day and Name posting a stable 114 wRC+ in part-time responsibility, Younger might must hit extra in an effort to preserve himself within the lineup frequently within the long-term, notably with prospect Robert Hassell III starting to hit on the Triple-A degree this yr. For now, nonetheless, the Nationals will certainly content material themselves with a fast return to motion for his or her heart fielder, on condition that the lack of Younger would possible power Crews to slip over to heart subject on a extra common foundation. With Crews scuffling badly on the plate himself thus far within the yr, the Nats would absolutely favor to keep away from placing extra obligations on his plate at this level.

Extra from across the NL East…

The Mets optioned infielder Ronny Mauricio to Triple-A right this moment after ending his rehab project on the Double-A degree. As famous by Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, the transfer is basically procedural in nature on condition that Mauricio was already within the minors. Mauricio missed all the 2024 season after struggling a torn ACL throughout winter ball, and he’s appeared in simply ten video games within the minors up to now this yr as he works his method again up to the mark with 5 video games at Single-A and 5 video games at Double-A. Now, Mauricio is ready to complete getting again into type with the membership’s Syracuse affiliate. Given he’s hitting simply .125/.176/.188 with a 35.9% strikeout fee up to now this yr, it’s secure to say that Mauricio continues to be targeted on restoration at this level and certain gained’t be a sensible large league possibility for the Mets for a while but.
The Marlins, in the meantime, have been with out shortstop Xavier Edwards within the lineup for 2 days now on account of again soreness. Craig Mish of the Miami Herald relayed right this moment that, in accordance with supervisor Clayton McCullough, Edwards underwent imaging that “got here out OK” and that Edwards was slated to renew baseball actions right this moment. It’s unclear if Edwards is anticipated to return to the lineup tomorrow, but when a visit to the injured record is being thought-about that might be a perfect time to decide seeing as a hypothetical IL stint could possibly be backdated due Might 16 if it started tomorrow. Edwards was one of many membership’s higher hitters in 70 video games final yr however has hit simply .263/.337/.292 thus far within the 2025 marketing campaign. Javier Sanoja is filling in at shortstop whereas Edwards is out of fee.