Jacob Young has earned the nickname "Spider-Man" for his ability to make seemingly impossible catches in center field.
Now, the Nationals are making sure he'll be climbing walls in Washington for years to come.
Young, 27, has agreed to a four-year, $23 million contract extension that includes an $8 million club option for a fifth season, a source told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. The Nationals have not confirmed the agreement.
The deal will cover Young's three remaining arbitration years and one potential free-agent season, keeping him in Washington through at least 2030, with a club option for '31.
The agreement would mark the second contract extension under president of baseball operations Paul Toboni, who joined the Nationals last offseason. Washington signed right-hander Cade Cavalli to a four-year, $47 million extension in September, with a club option for 2031.
Selected by the Nationals in the seventh round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of the University of Florida, Young has established himself as an elite defender with top-end speed since his debut in 2023.
Young led outfielders with 20 Outs Above Average in 2024, according to Statcast. He followed that with 14 OAA in '25 and 11 OAA in 2026.
One of Young's most memorable catches of the season came on Aug. 23, when he scaled the outfield wall at loanDepot park to rob the Marlins' Heriberto Hernández of a potential home run. Young covered 93 feet before climbing the wall to make the catch and throwing back to the infield to complete a double play.
Already regarded as one of the game's top defensive center fielders, Young also focused on improving his offense last offseason.
Those efforts were followed by one of his most productive offensive seasons. In 2026, Young slashed .252/.318/.390 with a career-high .708 OPS across 140 games. He hit 10 home runs, doubling his career total entering the season, and drove in a career-high 50 runs.
It was a notable improvement from 2025, when Young hit .231 with two home runs and a .583 OPS in 120 games.
Young also stole 18 bases in 22 attempts in 2026 and finished the season with 1.8 WAR, according to Baseball-Reference.
The extension gives Washington another player under contract as the club continues building around a young core that includes All-Stars CJ Abrams and James Wood, along with outfielders Dylan Crews and Daylen Lile.
The Nationals finished 77-85 in 2026, an 11-win improvement over the previous season, with their offense ranking third in the Majors in runs scored.