Gruesome Hit Drops Mets First Baseman

Photo: Chris Rubino / Shutterstock

A Mets first baseman was knocked unconscious on live television, then strapped to a backboard as fans feared a spinal injury.

Story Snapshot

Jared Young was kneed in the head during a collision at first base and carted off.
The Mets say a hospital computed tomography scan was negative, but he has concussion symptoms.
Team officials report he has full use and feeling in his arms and legs.
Baseball concussion rules require removal from play and careful follow-up before return.

What Happened On The Field

New York Mets first baseman Jared Young collided with pitcher Nolan McLean while both rushed to cover first base at Citi Field on Thursday night. McLean’s knee struck Young’s head as the play unfolded, and Young lay motionless for several minutes before medical staff arrived. Emergency crews placed Young on a backboard and carted him off the field as teammates and fans looked on. The Mets later said Young was being taken to a local hospital for testing and treatment.

Mets interim manager Andy Green told reporters after the game that Young’s computed tomography scan at the hospital was negative. Green said Young showed “real concussion symptoms” but had full use of his extremities. He called the scene “really scary,” noting that Young lost consciousness after the blow. The team’s update tracked with standard head injury messaging in baseball: share the imaging result, confirm limb function, and stress ongoing evaluation for concussion signs.

What Doctors Look For After A Head Injury

Sports concussion experts say a negative computed tomography scan does not rule out a concussion. Scans check for bleeding or skull fractures, while a concussion is a functional brain injury that often does not appear on imaging. Best practice follows a “recognize and remove” approach. Medical staff remove the athlete from play, watch for symptoms like headache, dizziness, and confusion, and guide a slow return to activity only after symptoms clear and tests normalize under care.

Major League Baseball added a seven-day injured list for concussions to push teams toward fast removal, careful checks, and a measured return. Teams must assign a mild brain injury specialist to help evaluate players, and league medical leadership reviews documentation before a player can come back. These steps aim to prevent second-impact risks and reduce pressure to rush back too soon in a long season where every game matters to clubs and careers.

Why The Scene Looked So Intense

Stadium responses to head impacts can look harsh because safety comes first. Crews stabilize the neck and spine when a player is unconscious or reports neck pain. That means a backboard, straps, and slow movement even if the main injury is a concussion. Media research shows coverage often focuses on the dramatic moment yet misses the longer process of rest, rehab, and cognitive checks that shape when and how an athlete can return safely.

This is bigger than baseball.

In Bryce Harper’s on field postgame interview, he shouted out Mets player Jared Young after a scary head injury.

Mets and Phillies may be rivals but you love to see this ♥️ pic.twitter.com/79PdndEkaB

— js9innings (@js9inningsmedia) September 18, 2026

Fans later debated the on-field response, but clinical steps follow set playbooks. Medical teams limit head and neck motion, run quick neurologic checks, and decide on transport. At the hospital, doctors rule out bleeding with a computed tomography scan when needed, then manage the concussion itself with time, targeted therapy for balance or vision issues, and graded exercise once symptoms improve. That layered plan, not a single test, drives the timeline back to baseball.

What Comes Next For The Mets And Young

The Mets will place Young in the concussion pathway and hold him out while doctors monitor symptoms. The club’s medical staff and league specialists will review his progress day by day. Return to play will require symptom resolution at rest and with exertion, plus normal cognitive and balance testing. For a team fighting through a long schedule, patience now reduces the risk of a setback later, which can be costlier for the player and the club.