Overview
- Young scaled the left-center wall at loanDepot Park on Sunday to snare a deep drive by Heriberto Hernández and immediately threw back to double off Otto López to end the third inning.
- Broadcast and replay angles circulated widely after the play but several replays suggested the ball likely would have landed below the top of the wall, leaving it unclear whether a home run was robbed.
- Advanced defensive metrics cited this season place Young among the best MLB center fielders, with totals such as 12 Outs Above Average and a 7.6 Defensive WAR cited in coverage.
- Offensively Young has a modest 2026 stat line, and his arbitration-controlled contract through 2029 makes him a valuable, controllable asset for the Nationals as they rebuild.
- The clip drew national highlight coverage and strong reaction from broadcasters, and that attention could factor into Washington’s decisions about keeping Young in center field or shifting toward prospects like Dylan Crews or CJ Abrams.