The New York Mets held their collective breath Thursday night as first baseman Jared Young was carted off the field on a stretcher during a 3-0 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. The frightening scene unfolded in the top of the sixth inning when Young dove for a slow roller off the bat of Phillies outfielder Justin Crawford. As he stretched to make the stop, he was inadvertently struck in the head by the knee of Mets pitcher Nolan McLean.
Young lay motionless on the grass at Citi Field for several tense minutes before being immobilized and transported to a nearby hospital. The sight of the neck brace and the stretcher sent a wave of anxiety through the crowd and the dugout. Manager Andy Green didn't hide the gravity of the moment.
“It was a terrifying moment on a baseball field,” Green said. “Took him a while to come to. It was a really scary collision.”
Fortunately, the initial fears were not realized. The team announced that Young's CT scan came back negative, and he has full use of his extremities. Green relayed the positive news while also being cautious about the road ahead.
“He’s had a CT scan. Results have come back negative,” Green said. “So, in that sense, it’s very positive. Still experiencing real concussion symptoms right now but has full use of his extremities and feels at this point in time like we’ve avoided the scariest outcomes.”
While the worst-case scenarios have been ruled out, Young is now dealing with concussion symptoms. With the MLB regular season winding down, it's possible he could be shut down for the remainder of the year. The team will likely take a cautious approach with his recovery.
The incident has also sparked scrutiny of the medical crew's handling of the stretcher, with some fans questioning the procedure. However, the primary focus remains on Young's health. He did manage to offer a thumbs-up to fans as he was being taken off, a small but reassuring sign.
Young, who has been a valuable utility piece for the Mets this season, will now undergo the concussion protocol. The team has not provided a timeline for his return, but with the season nearly over, it wouldn't be surprising if he takes the rest of the year off to fully recover.
For now, the Mets and their fans can breathe a sigh of relief that the injury, while serious, is not as catastrophic as it initially appeared. The focus now shifts to Young's recovery and the hope that he'll be back on the field in full health when the next season begins.
