Mets Outfielder Jared Young Out 6-8 Weeks After Left Knee Surgery

Young's injury adds to Mets' outfield depth concerns as Juan Soto and Mike Tauchman also on IL

Apr. 16, 2026 at 3:53am

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A cubist-style painting depicting a baseball player making a catch or sliding into home plate, with the player's body and the field of play broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in vibrant blue, orange, and other colors.The Mets' outfield depth has been tested by a wave of injuries, forcing the team to rely on new faces to fill key roles.NYC Today

Mets outfielder Jared Young will undergo left knee surgery and miss 6-8 weeks, the team announced on Wednesday. Young's injury is the latest blow to the Mets' outfield depth, which has been depleted by injuries to Juan Soto and Mike Tauchman. The Mets have recalled MJ Melendez from Triple-A Syracuse to fill Young's roster spot.

Why it matters

The Mets' outfield depth has become a major concern, with three key players now sidelined by injuries. This will test the team's ability to overcome adversity and find production from other sources as they look to stay competitive in the NL East race.

The details

Jared Young, who was providing a left-handed bat off the bench and seeing time in the outfield and at first base, suffered a meniscus tear in his left knee. He will undergo surgery on Thursday and is expected to miss 6-8 weeks. Young was batting .350 with a .391 on-base percentage in 23 plate appearances this season. The Mets have also been without Juan Soto, who is on the IL with a right calf strain, and Mike Tauchman, who underwent surgery for a meniscus tear in spring training.

  • Young was placed on the injured list on Wednesday, April 16, 2026.
  • Young is scheduled to undergo surgery on Thursday, April 17, 2026.
  • Young is expected to return to play in 6-8 weeks.

The players

Jared Young

A Mets outfielder who was providing depth and a left-handed bat off the bench before suffering a meniscus tear in his left knee that will sideline him for 6-8 weeks.

Juan Soto

A Mets outfielder who is currently on the injured list with a right calf strain.

Mike Tauchman

A Mets outfielder who underwent surgery for a meniscus tear in spring training.

MJ Melendez

A Mets outfielder who was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse to fill Jared Young's roster spot.

Carlos Mendoza

The Mets' manager.

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What they’re saying

“There not only was going to be playing time for him, but he was giving us some good at-bats from the left side. It's a big blow, but guys will step up.”

— Carlos Mendoza, Mets Manager

What’s next

The Mets will need to rely on their remaining healthy outfielders, including MJ Melendez and recently signed veteran Tommy Pham, to fill the void left by the injuries to Jared Young, Juan Soto, and Mike Tauchman. The team is hopeful that Soto can return during the next homestand.

The takeaway

The Mets' outfield depth has been severely tested by a rash of injuries, putting pressure on the team to find production from unexpected sources as they look to stay competitive in the NL East. This situation highlights the importance of roster depth and the ability to overcome adversity in a long MLB season.