Nationals’ Jacob Young Speeds Into First Full Season

As many runs as Jacob Young scored in his first full minor league season, it’s no wonder he was chosen as the Nationals’ baserunner of the year.

The 23-year-old outfielder tied for the minor league lead with 118 runs for Low-A Fredericksburg. It took until the final day of the Triple-A schedule, which came 17 days after the Carolina League season ended, for Dodgers prospect Michael Busch to reach the same total. 

“It wasn’t a goal, but you either drive in runs or you score runs,” Young said. “My game is to be more of a table-setter. With the team we had, the guys behind me were very good hitters. You just find your way on and let the big hitters bring you in.”

The righthanded-hitting Young batted .262/.360/.331 with two home runs, 59 walks and 82 strikeouts in 115 games. After going 13-for-13 in steals in 26 games for Fredericksburg in 2021, he was 52-for-59 this year.

A 2021 seventh-rounder out of Florida, Young was 5-foot-10, 160 pounds coming out of Ponte Vedra High in the Jacksonville area. He’s now 6 feet, 189 pounds.

“I grew up a Gator fan, so it was a dream come true to go there,” Young said. “I didn’t know what opportunities I’d have once I got there. I wasn’t the biggest kid, and I didn’t know where I stacked up.”

As a freshman, Young made 48 starts, including 43 at second base. He then played mostly right field in 2020 and left field in his final college season. In a Nationals system deep in outfielders, he has played all three outfield spots. Though he’s not know for his arm, he played 63 games in right field this year.

At instructional league this fall, Young continued to work on his swing and his daily routine.

“It’s been good,” he said. “There’s a lot of one-on-one stuff—working on whatever you did during season and what they want you to do in the offseason.”

CAPITAL GAINS

— Third baseman Jake Alu, who tied for second in the minor leagues with 40 doubles—25 at Double-A Harrisburg and 15 at Triple-A Rochester—won the organization’s Nationals Way Award for his approach to the game. Outfielders Jeremy De La Rosa and James Wood shared the honor for hitter of the year. Righthander Cade Cavalli was named pitcher of the year and shortstop Jordy Barley was chosen as defensive player of the year.

— Righthander Zach Brzykcy, signed out of Virginia Tech after the shortened five-round 2020 draft, reached Triple-A by the end of the season. Overall in 2022, he went 8-2, 1.76 with 14 saves in 16 opportunities. He struck out 95 batters in 61.1 innings.