Mets first baseman Jared Young was carted off the field at Citi Field in the sixth inning of Thursday night’s 3-0 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies after pitcher Nolan McLean’s knee struck him in the head, knocking him unconscious.
Manager Andy Green said a CT scan at a hospital came back negative. Young had concussion symptoms but retained full use of his extremities, according to Green.
“It was a terrifying moment on a baseball field. Took him a while to come to. It was a really scary collision.”
The play unfolded as the Mets trailed 1-0. Justin Crawford hit a slow grounder toward first, and McLean broke toward the bag while Young initially moved back toward it. McLean briefly paused as Young reached for the ball with his right hand while trying to keep a foot on first base. McLean then resumed running and collided with Young’s head, tripping over the first baseman as Crawford crossed the bag. Young fell face first to the ground and did not move.
Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor described the moment.
“It was scary to sit there and just know that he wasn’t with us in that moment. He was just somewhere else.”
Green and an athletic trainer sprinted from the dugout as a cart was called onto the field. McLean bent over with his hands on his knees as players from both teams gathered near Young. Catcher Francisco Alvarez appeared to be praying, and Philadelphia’s Alec Bohm took a knee near third base while players in both dugouts looked on.
Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly, himself a former big league first baseman, said he couldn’t tell what had happened from the dugout.
“It was weird. You couldn’t tell what happened. I heard it was bad. Hopefully the kid’s all right.”
When Young regained consciousness, Green said he asked, “What happened?” Young was immobilized on the cart but gave a thumbs up before being taken off the field behind the left-center field fence.
Green updated reporters on Young’s condition after the game.
“He’s had a CT scan. Results have come back negative. 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.”
Young, 31, is in his first full major league season and has hit .266 with nine home runs and 39 RBIs in 103 games, after missing six weeks earlier this year with a left knee injury.
“He’s somebody we all respect and appreciate and have love for. He’s been a big part of our team this whole year.”
McLean, visibly shaken, remained in the game and struck out Garrett Stubbs to end the inning. Green pulled him for reliever Tobias Myers to start the seventh. McLean had thrown 82 pitches, his fewest since May 25.
“Still was willing to go back out the next inning. Didn’t feel that was in his best interest at that point in time.”
