Jared

Young

It’s the last thing the Mets need right now. Soto was replaced by Jared Young in left field to open the fifth inning after going 0-for-2 at the plate. It’s a bit unclear whether he suffered an injury or was dealing with a physical issue prior to leaving the contest. There should be some clarity on his status shortly.

With left-hander Nick Lodolo on the mound, the Mets will turn to Mark Vientos at first base and bat him fifth. Zack Short will also play shortstop and bat ninth, with Bo Bichette moving to third base and Brett Baty getting the day off. Young had been hitting well for the Mets, but he’s slashing just .147/.194/.265 over his last 10 games. He’s not the answer at first base.

Young put the Mets on the board with a solo homer off Michael King to lead off the second inning. He later added a base hit in the fourth. The 30-year-old first baseman is hitting an excellent .313/.382/.563 with three homers, eight runs scored, and six RBI across 55 plate appearances as the strong side of a platoon at first base. Since coming off the injured list on May 26, much of his playing time has come at the expense of Mark Vientos, as it’s given the Mets another left-handed hitter to deploy against right-handed pitching.

Young started at designated hitter on Saturday against the Marlins. He knocked a base hit and scored a run in the fourth inning, then went yard for the first time this season with a solo homer off Lake Bachar to lead off the sixth. The 30-year-old first baseman doesn’t carry the most upside for fantasy purposes, but should continue to get regular starts against right-handed pitching while hitting in the heart of the Mets lineup.

Young figures to reclaim a strong-side platoon role as long as Jorge Polanco remains out, and perhaps longer if he keeps hitting. Young was at .350/.391/.450 in 23 plate appearances before hurting himself in late April, so the Mets figure to at least give him some at-bats in the hopes he can get hot.

Minter has been unavailable for all of 2026 as he recovers from lat surgery. The 32-year-old may be eased into his role to begin his time with the Mets, bt when healthy, he’s been one of the better left-handed relievers in baseball. In addition to getting Minter back, it’s also expected that Jared Young will also come off the injured list before Tuesday’s tilt with the Reds.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters Young will require surgery this week to address a meniscus tear in his left knee. The 30-year-old absence is another hit to New York’s outfield depth as he’ll be sidelined until at least late May or early June.

No word yet on how much time Young will miss, but it figures to be a multi-week absence, even in a best case scenario. The 30-year-old underwent imaging that revealed the tear after dealing with knee discomfort earlier this week.

It sounds like there’s a possibility Young could hit the injured list after suffering the injury over the weekend against the Athletics. There should be a decision on his status at some point in the coming days.

It’s the second time in three games over the weekend that Vientos has found himself outside of the Mets’ starting nine. Jared Young will start in his place at first base and will bat third against Athletics’ righty Aaron Civale.