Jacob Young, Bonafide MLB'er?

[welch]

It can change, but by Statcast data, he's the 5th best qualified CF out of 20.
https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?lg=all&qual=y&season=2024&season1=2024&ind=0&stats=fld&pos=cf&type=24
Welch will love #1.

His OBP is up to .329, and his running more than makes up for his lack of power. Quietly, this guy could put up a 3 fWAR season as a rookie.

!!! Remember that first Pirate series this year? When MAT shocked the Nats?

Meanwhile, Young looks like the CF of now and of the future. As Smithian says, it could be Crews, Young, and Wood in the OF. Maybe Hassell and Lile for 4th OF.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

!!! Remember that first Pirate series this year? When MAT shocked the Nats?

this isn't turning out to be the best year to boast on MAT. Despite the bounceback with the glove, he's played himself into the shortside of a platoon with an abysmal year at the plate. .208 / .258/ .267. Young-class power without his on base ability and a worse runner at this stage of his career. 

[welch]

this isn't turning out to be the best year to boast on MAT. Despite the bounceback with the glove, he's played himself into the shortside of a platoon with an abysmal year at the plate. .208 / .258/ .267. Young-class power without his on base ability and a worse runner at this stage of his career. 

But MAT stunned the Nats in that first game. Who needs to boat about Taylor, other than that he was the AL gold glove CF in 2021?

[Slateman]

Whats the offensive cutoff for him? What is the lowest where defense and stolen bases dont make up for the lack of bat?

I think what complicates this is the Nationals have three outfield prospects that all project to be much better offensively, and all three can play good CF defense.

[Smithian]

Whats the offensive cutoff for him? What is the lowest where defense and stolen bases dont make up for the lack of bat?

I think what complicates this is the Nationals have three outfield prospects that all project to be much better offensively, and all three can play good CF defense.

About a .625 OPS. .600 is as low as I could go. And that requires plus defense and plus base running. If he can’t live above .650, a platoon situation likely becomes needed.

Who are you counting as the third prospect OF? I assume someone will flame out and make Young’s required production less demanding.

[Slateman]

About a .625 OPS. .600 is as low as I could go. And that requires plus defense and plus base running. If he can’t live above .650, a platoon situation likely becomes needed.

Who are you counting as the third prospect OF? I assume someone will flame out and make Young’s required production less demanding.

Wood, Crews, and Hassell. Not to mention Lane

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Whats the offensive cutoff for him? What is the lowest where defense and stolen bases dont make up for the lack of bat?

I think what complicates this is the Nationals have three outfield prospects that all project to be much better offensively, and all three can play good CF defense.

I'd just look at  the OBP. If it is sub .320, say .315, then he's a backup. At .330, where he is now, he's a 3 fWAR starter. At .345, he's very very good.

I've mentioned Brett Butler before, and Young right now hasn't developed into a more walks than Ks guy like Butler, but the D is better, and Butler's first 5 or so years he had not developed the walk skill quite so much.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

About a .625 OPS. .600 is as low as I could go. And that requires plus defense and plus base running. If he can’t live above .650, a platoon situation likely becomes needed.

Who are you counting as the third prospect OF? I assume someone will flame out and make Young’s required production less demanding.

OPS doesn't matter for him. For Young, looks strictly at OBP. He runs for his extra bases. He can have a .050 ISO and still be a big offensive contributor with his speed.

i would not discount Lile and Pinckney getting into the mix, too. It's just with Crews, it's going to be tough not to try him in CF. I think with Wood, he can do the Judge thing in right.

[imref]

i saw earlier that Young now leads Nats' position players in overall WAR so far this year. Williams leads overall.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

For Young, looks strictly at OBP. He runs for his extra bases. He can have a .050 ISO and still be a big offensive contributor with his speed.

I think I heard Frandsen make this point generally about this team - that the baserunning is part of the SLG. It's how this team compiles its doubles and triples.

[welch]

Young at 1.5 War in 1/3 of the season. Branch Rickey used his original version of WAR to compare players. Young is pretty good...he will probably start in CF when Wood and Crews make the Nats 26-man roster.

[KV]

Leading team with a .282 avg, and sporting a .341 obp. I’d say he belongs.

[Dave in Fairfax]

Such a sad decline.

On June 5, 2017, Ryan Zimmerman had a .372 BA, Daniel Murphy was at .333, Bryce was at .322, and Rendon was at .294.

[IanRubbish]

Leading team with a .282 avg, and sporting a .341 obp. I’d say he belongs.

He's also got the highest WAR of any Nats outfielder.  He not only belongs now, but Crews, Wood, and Hassell aren't likely to be playing together until mid-season next year in DC if everything goes right.  Even in that scenario, he'd be a 4th OFer at a minimum.

[Slateman]

It says a lot that a slap hitting speedster is the best player on the team.

Trade him at his highest value?

[JCA-CrystalCity]

It says a lot that a slap hitting speedster is the best player on the team.

Trade him at his highest value?

for Crochet . . .

[Slateman]

for Crochet . . .

https://www.baseballtradevalues.com/trades/167212


Not my trade either . . .

[JCA-CrystalCity]

So harvey, lgjr., young, and susana out the door. How many years of Crochet?

[Slateman]

So harvey, lgjr., young, and susana out the door. How many years of Crochet?

This year + 2

Leaves your pitching set, and Rizzo can go spend on Kim, Belli, and maybe a vet bullpen piece.

I also think you could flip Harvey for somewhat better prospects, flip Lane, replace Garcia with the hauls from those trades and add another piece from our system (Morales?)

[IanRubbish]

It says a lot that a slap hitting speedster is the best player on the team.

Trade him at his highest value?

Won't happen, but could also bring up someone from AAA to take Nunez's waster roster slot, although that won't happen either.  Rizzo will never admit to a mistake which means that Nunez spot is not going anywhere and no one from the minors is getting that spot.  I'm ok with Young for now, more exciting than watching the retreads.

[nobleisthyname]

I'm open to trading Young while his value is likely at its highest, but the offense is so miserable right now I think I'd prefer to try and beef up that area of the team rather than get another pitcher.

Really we need both more pitching and more hitting still. The team's in a rough patch right but it's getting harder to see how this team will actually be competitive next year. They almost certainly won't be if they don't pay up for some legitimate hitters.

[Slateman]

I'm open to trading Young while his value is likely at its highest, but the offense is so miserable right now I think I'd prefer to try and beef up that area of the team rather than get another pitcher.

Really we need both more pitching and more hitting still. The team's in a rough patch right but it's getting harder to see how this team will actually be competitive next year. They almost certainly won't be if they don't pay up for some legitimate hitters.

On a WC-caliber offense, Young is, at best, a number 8 ot 9 hitter.

[nobleisthyname]

On a WC-caliber offense, Young is, at best, a number 8 ot 9 hitter.

I don't disagree. But I do think he's perfectly suited for that role. Also if that guy is currently your best hitter that means you have 8 other hitters you still have to find. That's a tall order for a single trade deadline+offseason.

Edit: I just checked on Fangraphs. Young has been the second best offensive player on the team behind only Winker. He's been better than Abrams, García, Ruiz, and Thomas.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

On a WC-caliber offense, Young is, at best, a number 8 ot 9 hitter.

nailed, but Brett Gardner and others made a heck of a living in that role. He doesn't even need to have Gardner's peak career power - early career Gardner power is enough. I'm kind of used to old AL offenses that had the "second leadoff hitter" at #9. If he's maintaining a .330+ OBP, his running makes him very useful when paired with rangy defense. He's a legit 3+ win player if he's performing like that. 

BTW - right now, Young is 4th in  fWAR among all positional rookies, behind Joey Ortiz, Colton Cowser, and Wilyer Abreu. and ahead of Masyn Winn and Michael Busch. Assuming he keeps playing and no tail off in performance, he's on track for a 3 fWAR rookie season. https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=nl&lg=al&type=8&season=2024&month=0&season1=2024&ind=2&qual=50&sortcol=21&sortdir=default&pagenum=1

He's also 3rd in br-WAR since his debut, but that includes last year.https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/2024-rookies.shtml

[Slateman]

Im sorry, but Young is no where near Gardner. Gardner had multiple double digit home run seasons, and posted .340+ OBP seasons.