Jared Young moves rehab to Syracuse, nears Mets return

Young has been on the injured list with a torn left knee meniscus since April 13, and his rehab assignment began May 15, almost exactly one month after surgery. In two games with the St. Lucie Mets, he went 1-for-6 with a walk and a run scored while logging six total innings at first base. That line is modest, but for a player whose value comes from being able to stand in at first, move to the corners and give a left-handed bat off the bench, the more important number is the next one: how his knee responds once the competition steps up in Syracuse.

That matters because the Mets are not just waiting for a healthy body. They are waiting to see whether Young can fit immediately into the kind of role a contender needs to solve on the fly. He can play first base, left field and right field, and that kind of flexibility can change the shape of the bench almost overnight. If he comes through Syracuse with solid timing and no setbacks, the Mets could be forced to decide quickly whether he is their best answer at first base, a designated hitter option, or a corner-outfield safety valve when the roster gets tight.