New York Mets star Jared Young was taken to the hospital after a frightening collision with teammate Nolan McLean left him motionless on the field during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies.
The scary scene unfolded at Citi Field in the top of the sixth inning, with Philadelphia leading 1-0. Justin Crawford was sprinting toward first base when an apparent miscommunication between Young and McLean sent both Mets players scrambling for the loose ball.
Both attempted to make the play at almost the same moment. McLean caught Young in the face with his knee, sending the 31-year-old crashing to the ground.
Young Left Motionless After Collision
Young remained motionless as concerned teammates quickly gathered around him. Mets medical personnel rushed onto the field and began treating him while the game came to a halt.
Given the nature of the collision, staff took significant precautions. Young was placed in a neck brace before being lifted onto a cart and taken from the field.
There was at least one encouraging moment before he disappeared toward the clubhouse. Young raised his hand and gave the Citi Field crowd a thumbs-up, drawing cheers from fans who had watched the disturbing scene unfold.
He was subsequently transported to a hospital for further examination. The Mets later announced that Young’s CT scan was negative. He was showing signs of a concussion but reportedly had full use of his extremities.
Mets Teammates Describe Terrifying Scene
Interim Mets manager Andy Green described the collision as a frightening experience after Philadelphia completed a 3-0 victory.
“That was a terrifying moment,” Green said. “We are thankful he is showing really good signs right now and doing well at the hospital.”
Francisco Lindor offered another glimpse of how unsettling the situation looked from the field.
“It was scary to sit there and just know that he wasn’t with us in that moment,” Lindor said. “He was just somewhere else.”
Another Scary Injury Earlier in the Week
The incident came during a week already featuring another alarming injury on the field. On Tuesday night, pitcher Shane Baz was struck on the right elbow by a 105.1 mph line drive off Bo Bichette’s bat.
The impact was powerful enough to send the ball into left field, allowing Bichette to get on base. Baz immediately bent over in pain and clutched his arm after removing his glove.
He attempted to remain in the game and threw a warm-up pitch, but the ball sailed over the backstop. Baz was subsequently removed.
He later said his arm went numb after the impact, but indicated his removal was precautionary and that he might have been able to continue pitching with more time to recover.
For Young, the focus shifted from Wednesday’s final score to his condition. The negative CT scan and reports that he retained full use of his extremities provided encouraging early news after a collision that brought the game to a sudden and unsettling stop.
