Mets first baseman Young hospitalized after collision with pitcher McLean

New York Mets first baseman Jared Young was carted off the field and hospitalized Thursday after a collision with teammate pitcher Nolan McLean during the sixth inning of a 3–0 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field. The incident occurred when Phillies outfielder Justin Crawford hit a slow roller toward first base, causing both Young and McLean to converge on the ball. As McLean ran toward the base, his right knee struck Young's head, sending the first baseman face-first to the ground. Young remained motionless for several moments before regaining consciousness; he flashed a thumbs-up to the crowd as he was transported off the field on a stretcher.

At a local hospital, Young underwent a CT scan that returned negative results, according to Mets manager Andy Green. However, Young exhibited concussion symptoms and was being monitored for further evaluation. Green confirmed that Young had full use of his extremities. "It was a terrifying moment on a baseball field," Green said. "Took him a while to come to. It was a really scary collision."

McLean, visibly shaken by the collision, remained in the game and struck out the next batter to end the inning before being removed by Green after the sixth. Green acknowledged that keeping McLean in the game "probably" was not the right decision. "The humanity hit him pretty hard right there," Green said of the pitcher. Both teams and coaching staff gathered near Young on the field; catcher Francisco Alvarez appeared to be praying, and Philadelphia's Alec Bohm took a knee.

Young, 31, was in his first full Major League season and had established himself as a regular at first base, batting .266 with nine home runs and 39 RBIs in 103 games before the collision. He had recently returned from a six-week absence due to a left knee injury. Mark Vientos replaced Young on defense for the remainder of Thursday's game.

Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor expressed concern for his teammate after the game. "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." Green said Young asked "What happened?" when he regained consciousness on the field.