Young (rib cage) avoids serious injury after superb catch, crash into Trop wall 

ST. PETERSBURG -- After running full-speed into Tropicana Field’s left-center-field wall following a sensational catch in Saturday’s 4-3 victory over the Rays, Nationals center fielder Jacob Young said he felt much better on Sunday morning and doesn’t expect to miss any time.

Young wasn’t in the lineup for Sunday afternoon’s series finale against the Rays, but Nats manager Blake Butera said Young was available for reserve duty.

Young slammed into the wall after catching a deep drive off the bat of Victor Mesa Jr., in the eighth inning. Before crumpling to the turf in pain, Young shoveled the ball to left fielder Daylen Lile as Rays baserunner Chandler Simpson retreated to first base.

“I thought I was closer to the wall when I jumped,’’ said Young, who had soreness and tightness in his right rib cage. “Instead of jumping into it, I landed, then collided with it ... and that made it worse. But you’re just happy to catch the ball and get it in with a big moment like that.

“I don’t remember much about it. I watched the replay and I’m happy I got rid of it [to Lile], because I was basically in the fetal position after that. I couldn’t breathe. The breath got knocked out of me. Luckily, my brain told me to get rid of the ball before I went down in pain.’’

Young, whose return will be “a pain tolerance thing,’’ said it wasn’t the best catch of his career. He favored a few instances where he leaped high over the fence to rob potential home run balls.

“But it might’ve been my hardest collision,’’ Young said. “I think I can say that.’’