Jacob Young, Bonafide MLB'er?

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Call starting over Young again today.

It's Burnes, so dodging a tough starter in favor of a hotter hitter.

[Smithian]

Martinez confirmed giving him a few days off.

I really like Young. His defense and speed means he can make a career as a reserve but would love the bat to earn a starting spot n

[imref]

Nussbaum:

Davey said Young is sitting back-to-back days to fix his mechanics. Said he’s diving to home plate, not seeing the ball away, not catching up to the ball inside. Team wanted to address before it snowballed.

He’ll play tomorrow.

“As I told him, he’s our center fielder.”

[imref]

Call starting in RF again tonight.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Call starting in RF again tonight.

Wally Pipped.

[tomterp]

Call is el fuego

[IanRubbish]

Call's been the best hitter so far on the entire team, Young is a late inning defensive replacement on an average team.  But this is not an average team.

[Smithian]

Call has earned the right to stay in lineup … for the moment

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Bona fide trade piece?

Ghost of Wade Boggs: What are your thoughts on Jacob Young – is he part of the Nat’s long term plans or is he most likely trade piece for them?
2:47   
Ben Clemens: I think the most likely outcome is a trade piece because the optimal version of this nats team has Crews in center
2:48   
Ben Clemens: that said, he’s a really good trade piece in my opinion. He’s a truly elite CF defender

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/ben-clemens-fangraphs-chat-4-21-25/

There was a suggestion about dealing him to the As for one of their DH/1Bs in another article I read last week..

[imref]

Hmm, Santander is struggling for the Blue Jays.....

[welch]

Young is a keeper. He hits enough and he is a great CF. Crews looks fine in center, but Young makes a difference. As long as Young hits .250, he belongs to start.

[IanRubbish]

He's walking more, which is good, but he's been heavily scouted and hasn't adjusted.  Just 2 for 5 stealing this year, and getting harder to bunt his way with corner IFers increasingly playing him in.  He has to hit more balls over the Infielders' heads to sustain MLB-level production, otherwise his game is way too predictable and easy to defend against.

[Smithian]

If his long term ceiling is backup premium CF glove who can start for a stretch without tanking the lineup, that has value.

I’m okay appreciating what a player is versus being mad about he isn’t.

[Slateman]

If his long term ceiling is backup premium CF glove who can start for a stretch without tanking the lineup, that has value.

I’m okay appreciating what a player is versus being mad about he isn’t.

I think he's that and maybe a platoon bat against LHP. And that is fine with the right pieces.

[IdahoNat]

Really impressed with how he's been making the little plays recently. He also nearly robbed Smith of that homerun last night.

[nobleisthyname]

I think he's proven himself to be a bonafide MLB'er as per the thread title, but him being a bonafide MLB starter is looking pretty grim. I don't know what the heck happened to his base stealing but without that the defense is not enough to carry him beyond being a 4th outfielder/AAAA player. Super disappointing because his defense is so much fun to watch.

[rileyn]

I think he's proven himself to be a bonafide MLB'er as per the thread title, but him being a bonafide MLB starter is looking pretty grim. I don't know what the heck happened to his base stealing but without that the defense is not enough to carry him beyond being a 4th outfielder/AAAA player. Super disappointing because his defense is so much fun to watch.

Young and Crews got too jacked this offseason.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Young and Crews got too jacked this offseason.

Young certainly added muscle. That was the start of Robles's downfall.

As for Crews, I am less down on his performance offensively than most people. I look at the statcast expected numbers, the HRs, steals, and defense, and already think he's at least a regular,  and likely has even more upside once he gets back to taking his BBs.

[Slateman]

Young and Crews got too jacked this offseason.

Young's base stealing concerns started in the second half of last year.

[varoadking]

Young certainly added muscle. That was the start of Robles's downfall.

As for Crews, I am less down on his performance offensively than most people. I look at the statcast expected numbers, the HRs, steals, and defense, and already think he's at least a regular,  and likely has even more upside once he gets back to taking his BBs.

I think we expected more than just a "regular" when we drafted Crews #2 overall in 2023, and not sure taking more walks alone elevates him to that level...

[Slateman]

I think we expected more than just a "regular" when we drafted Crews #2 overall in 2023, and not sure taking more walks alone elevates him to that level...

If Crews were performing to his statcast data, he'd have an .800+ OPS

[Natsinpwc]

I think we expected more than just a "regular" when we drafted Crews #2 overall in 2023, and not sure taking more walks alone elevates him to that level...

I expected Mickey Moniak would be good when the Phillies drafted him number one overall.  But here we are and he’s trying to hang in the big leagues at a 0.0 bWAR this year.   Stuff happens.  Still time for him to improve. Elly De La Cruz was not very good his first year.  And now he is.

Plus chicks dick the walks. 

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I think we expected more than just a "regular" when we drafted Crews #2 overall in 2023, and not sure taking more walks alone elevates him to that level...

I said that because you and a lot of others call him a disaster. A disaster doesn't deserve to stick in majors. I'm saying at the very least he's regular. I expect more, and would be disappointed if he were only an average MLB corner OF, but this guy is not in the Elijah Green / Seth Romero / Mason Denaburg class of bad picks.

[varoadking]

I said that because you and a lot of others call him a disaster. A disaster doesn't deserve to stick in majors. I'm saying at the very least he's regular. I expect more, and would be disappointed if he were only an average MLB corner OF, but this guy is not in the Elijah Green / Seth Romero / Mason Denaburg class of bad picks.

I haven't called him a "disaster"...not that I recall anyway...maybe I did.  I do recall calling him a disappointment...and I'll stick by that...

I have said repeatedly that I expect his ceiling to be that of another Lane Thomas...who, for a spell, has been a "regular."  I don't expect Crews to ever be a star and that is disappointing.  I guess we'll see...

None of those other guys you mentioned went 2nd overall...

[varoadking]

I expected Mickey Moniak would be good when the Phillies drafted him number one overall.  But here we are and he’s trying to hang in the big leagues at a 0.0 bWAR this year.   Stuff happens.  Still time for him to improve. Elly De La Cruz was not very good his first year.  And now he is.

Plus chicks dick the walks.

I was gonna evoke the Moniak in this conversation...actually did some research...but elected not to for some reason...

I can't address the "Plus chicks dick the walks" statement...though assume there's been some research done on that...