Nationals' Jacob Young shows off incredible concentration to make bobbling catch for 2nd straight game

Jacob Young's concentration again drew praise Monday night as the Washington Nationals fell 11-5 to the Atlanta Braves in a late-season game at Truist Park. In the fifth inning, Braves shortstop Ha-Seong Kim lined a drive to center that Young tracked from the start. He slid and the ball rolled out of his glove for a split second, then snared it barehanded for the second out of the inning. The broadcast crew said, 'He did it again,' as Young stood up and kept the ball from bouncing away. The center fielder was 0-for-4 at the plate, but his fielding prowess drew the headlines.

That moment followed another display of his concentration the previous night against the New York Mets. Washington was trying to protect a slim lead in the fifth at Citi Field when Mets batter Brett Baty hit a drive to center. Young tracked the ball from the start; as he closed on the warning track, it appeared to drift beyond him. He leaped, collided with the wall, and the ball popped in and out of his glove before he recovered and completed the catch by keeping possession with a deliberate foot placement to prevent the ball from hitting the ground. Washington went on to win 3-2.

Those two high-concentration plays in as many days have become a talking point in Washington as the season winds down. Young's hands and focus in center field have drawn praise from teammates and observers, underscoring the Nationals' emphasis on defense as they navigate a crowded late-season schedule.

With the regular season entering its final stretch for both Washington and its opponents, the Nationals will continue to rely on Young and the rest of the outfield as the campaigns wind down.