Mets first base Jared Young left the field in the sixth inning of Thursday night’s 3-0 loss to Philadelphia after being knocked out when hit in the head by a pitcher’s knee. Nolan McLean as the two converged Justin Crawfordslow grounding.
New York manager Andy Green said a CT scan at a hospital was negative. Young had concussion symptoms and full use of his extremities, according to Green.
“It was a terrifying moment on a baseball field,” Green said. “It took him a while to come to his senses. It was a really scary crash.”
with shoots ahead 1-0, McLean was intercepted first on contact and Young initially turned toward the bag. McLean stopped short, at which point Young reached for the ball with his right hand while trying to keep a foot on base.
McLean resumed running. then collided with Young’s head, crashing over the first baseman as Crawford passed the bag. Young fell face first to the ground and was motionless.
“It was scary to sit there and know he wasn’t with us at that moment,” Mets shortstop East Francisco said. “He was just somewhere else.”
Green and an athletic trainer immediately exited the dugout and a stretcher was called.
McLean put his hands on his knees and bowed as all the Mets on the field gathered around Young. Catcher Francisco Alvarez appeared to be praying as members of both teams looked on from the dugouts. Philadelphia Alec Bohm took a knee near third base.
“It was weird. You couldn’t tell what happened,” said Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly, a former major league first baseman. “I heard it was bad. I hope the kid is okay.”
When Young regained consciousness, Green said the first baseman asked him, “What happened?”
Young immobilized himself in the cart and flashed his thumb before the cart disappeared behind the left-center field fence.
“He’s had a CT scan. The results came back negative,” Green said. “So in that sense it’s very positive. He’s still experiencing real concussion symptoms at the moment, but he’s got full use of his extremities and at this point it feels like we’ve avoided the worst outcomes.”
Young, a 31-year-old in his first full big league season, has established himself as a regular first baseman by hitting .266 with nine homers and 39 RBIs in 103 games. He missed six weeks with a left knee injury.
“He’s somebody that we all respect and appreciate and love,” Lindor said. “He’s been a big part of our team all year.”
McLean was shaken by the collision. He stayed in the game and threw a pass called the third strike Garrett Stubbsending the inning.
“Probably should have made a better decision not to let him get the next goal, but he was still strong enough to do it and go back there and do it,” Green said. “I think humanity hit it pretty hard right there.”
McLean was removed by Green in relief Tobias Myers at the beginning of the seventh. The starting right-hander threw 82 pitches, his fewest since May 25.
“Still was still willing to go back to the next tournament. He didn’t feel it was in his best interest at that point in time,” Green said.
