Jared Young has become the unlikely hero of the 2026 Mets
Jared Young leads the New York Mets with a .770 OPS through late August 2026, becoming an unlikely everyday hero after a path from the Cubs minors through Korea's KBO. The first baseman cracked the Opening Day roster after injuries opened a lane and has stabilized a position the Mets struggled to fill after Pete Alonso left.
Key Takeaways
- Jared Young leads the Mets with a .770 OPS through 85 games, ahead of Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor, and Bo Bichette.
- He reached Queens via the KBO after a Cubs draft career and joined the 2026 roster partly because of Mike Tauchman's knee injury.
- Young has started at first base in 11 of his last 13 games, giving the Mets stability at a troubled position.
- Despite a torn left meniscus that cost him six weeks, he posted a 1.018 OPS over his first nine games back.
- Young is under team control for five more seasons and appears locked into the Mets' 2027 plans.
How did Jared Young go from the KBO to the Mets?
Jared Young was a 15th-round pick of the Chicago Cubs in 2017 and reached the majors in 2022, but he did not stick. Two years later, he moved midseason to Korea, where he believed the money and opportunity offered a winding road back. The Mets signed him before the 2025 season after his 2024 KBO stint.
Young spent most of last year in the minors before edging onto the 2026 Opening Day roster when Mike Tauchman's knee injury created an opening. Jorge Polanco's ankle issues and struggles from Mark Vientos added playing time. Thursday marked his 13th consecutive game, per MLB.com.
Why is Jared Young leading the Mets in OPS?
Through 85 games, Young owns a .268/.330/.440 line with 15 doubles, two triples, eight home runs, and 32 runs and RBIs apiece. His RBI double off Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski on Thursday pushed his OPS to .770 and into the team lead.
Young is 134 games into his first full everyday big league run. After tearing his left meniscus and missing six weeks, he returned with a 1.018 OPS across his first nine games back. Interim manager Andy Green called him a strong teammate and noted that few hitters league-wide sustain a .775 OPS or better.
What has Jared Young fixed at first base?
The Mets' first-base picture collapsed after Pete Alonso left in free agency. Jorge Polanco, signed to play the position, made only two outings there. Mark Vientos got early reps, but the experiment failed defensively and offensively.
Young has offered steadier defense with 420 putouts, 31 assists, and four errors. Sports Illustrated called him a stabilizing presence who could man first full-time in 2027. His emergence gives Queens a credible in-house option where costly star replacements fell short.
What is next for Jared Young and the Mets?
Young is all but assured a 2026 roster spot and, with less than one year of service time entering the season, remains under team control for five more seasons. The open question is how large his role becomes once Polanco returns from offseason ankle surgery.
The Mets could still add another first baseman or a right-handed platoon partner, though SI argued trade capital may be better spent on pitching. Young himself said getting comfortable would be a death sentence in baseball. For ongoing sports-business crossover coverage, bookmark our Fintech & Crypto Alerts hub.