A former New York Mets reliever is set to return to the National League East, potentially setting up a familiar matchup against his old club after landing with a division rival following a long injury layoff.
According to MLB’s official transaction log, the Washington Nationals have signed left-handed pitcher Alex Young to a minor league contract. The move comes as Young works his way back into professional baseball after missing the entire 2025 season due to elbow surgery.
Young last appeared in the majors in 2024 with the Mets, where he briefly carved out a solid bullpen role. In 14 appearances covering 13.2 innings, he posted a 3.29 ERA and provided steady left-handed relief during a turbulent stretch for New York’s pitching staff. Despite the small sample size, his performance was considered effective enough to keep him on the radar for future bullpen opportunities.
Originally selected in the second round of the 2015 MLB Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks, Young made his MLB debut in 2019 and spent his early career moving through several organizations. After time with Arizona, he was claimed off waivers by Cleveland in 2021, then later had stints with the San Francisco Giants and Cincinnati Reds before eventually joining the Mets in 2024.
His most productive season came in 2022 with the Giants, when he posted a 2.36 ERA across 25 appearances while also contributing multiple holds as a dependable middle reliever. However, his career trajectory was interrupted by persistent elbow issues that ultimately required surgery.
In 2025, Young was sidelined after undergoing a season-ending procedure on his left elbow. He later revealed that he had unknowingly been pitching through a significant distal tear along with bone fragments for years before finally addressing the injury. After successful surgery and rehabilitation, he expressed gratitude for the procedure and optimism about resuming his career, noting that he felt “at peace” with the recovery process and eager to move forward.
Now fully cleared to return, Young has signed on with Washington in hopes of earning another opportunity at the major league level. If he regains his previous form, he could soon be an option for the Nationals’ bullpen potentially even facing the Mets in divisional matchups later this season.
Meanwhile, New York continues its own push to stabilize the season. The Mets recently secured their first sweep of the year with a convincing series win over the Detroit Tigers, capped by a 9–4 victory. Manager Carlos Mendoza praised his team’s balanced performance, highlighting improvements in hitting, baserunning, pitching, and overall execution.
With momentum finally building, the Mets now shift their focus to a highly anticipated weekend series against the New York Yankees, looking to build on a 18–25 record after their recent resurgence.
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