Key Highlights
- Eric Wagaman and Jared Young made a dynamic duo as designated hitters for the Mets.
- Wagaman hit a 415-foot solo home run off Reds’ lefty Andrew Abbott in the second inning.
- Young delivered a single and scored on Carson Benge’s two-out hit, pinch-hitting when Reds brought in righty Zach Maxwell.
- Mets broke five-game losing streak with a 4-2 win over the Reds at Citi Field.
- Jorge Polanco is expected to take over DH duties upon his return from injury.
Wagaman and Young: A Dynamic Duo on the Mets’ Bench
And so, it happened. Nine years after being drafted two rounds apart, Eric Wagaman and Jared Young came together as designated hitters for the Mets. You might think this is new, but… well, it’s not exactly a groundbreaking revelation.
Wagaman, 28, went 1-for-2 with a towering 415-foot solo home run off Reds’ lefty starter Andrew Abbott in the second inning. Young, pinch-hitting when the Reds called up righty Zach Maxwell, delivered a single and scored on Carson Benge’s two-out hit.
The Mets (23-33) broke their five-game losing streak with a hard-fought 4-2 win in front of 33,453 at Citi Field. Not always.
The Return of Jorge Polanco
But the spotlight is on the switch-hitting Jorge Polanco, who started his rehab assignment Wednesday at Double-A Binghamton. He went 1-for-2 with a single and a run scored. Polanco (Achilles) could return in June. In a worst-case scenario, he could be shut down and need surgery.
The Mets wait and see on Polanco, but this pair could platoon and provide a lift.
A Brief History of Wagaman and Young
Wagaman was drafted in the 13th round to the Yankees out of Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, Calif., in 2017. He debuted with Los Angeles (Angels) in 2024 before going to Miami in free agency last offseason. The Marlins traded him to the Twins for a minor-league pitcher last offseason and the Mets picked him up off waivers from Minnesota last month.
Young, 30, debuted for Chicago in 2022, playing in six games.
The Cardinals took him off waivers in 2023 but he never played for St. Louis. He rejuvenated his career with a quick stop in Korea before the Mets signed him as a free agent in December 2024.
Eric Wagaman by Berto Carlo
Wagaman slashed .283/.321/.462 and hit five homers in 173 at-bats vs. lefties for the Marlins last season, one of which was off David Peterson.
Young is 8-for-22 with two doubles vs. righties this year.
Wagaman burned the Mets last year on the season’s final day. He doubled off Ryne Stanek in the fourth inning to break a scoreless tie and the Marlins went on to a 4-0 victory that cost the Mets a playoff spot. The pair were both drafted in 2017.
The story of Wagaman and Young is not new, but it’s worth remembering as they step up in the designated hitter role. At least, that’s the plan.
