Old Dominion Professional Athletes

Old Dominion put two alumni in the spotlight during the week of Aug. 23–29, with Jared Young and Vinnie Pasquantino each delivering multi-RBI performances that kept their clubs in contention heading into September.

Jared Young Makes His Case in Queens

Young was the week's headliner. The Mets outfielder capped a productive stretch with a 3-hit, 3-RBI, 1-run outing on Aug. 29 against the Astros, lifting his average to .272. It was the kind of afternoon that turns heads for a player who started the day on the bench — and the kind of output that makes it harder for a manager to keep him out of the lineup.

The performance didn't come out of nowhere. Young had been quietly building momentum all week: a hit and an RBI on Aug. 27 against the Brewers, another hit on Aug. 26, and a hit-plus-RBI effort back on Aug. 23 against the White Sox. That game had a bitter ending — the White Sox walked it off after Young's clutch contribution went to waste — but the ODU product's individual production was undeniable.

Over the seven-game stretch, Young went 6-for-his-opportunities-in-the-lineup with 5 RBI and a rising batting average, cementing himself as a legitimate late-season contributor for New York.

Pasquantino Powers Up for Kansas City

Across the American League, Vinnie Pasquantino had his own defining moment. The Royals first baseman homered and drove in three runs on Aug. 27 against the Blue Jays — his most explosive game of the week — adding a hit and a walk to round out a complete performance. He also reached base with a hit and a walk on Aug. 28 versus the Guardians and contributed a hit, RBI, and run scored on Aug. 23 against the Tigers.

The former ODU standout finished the week hitting .246, steady production for a player who has become a fixture in Kansas City's lineup. His power showing on the 27th was the kind of night that reminds the league why the Royals have invested in him as a cornerstone at first base.

Yarbrough Logs Innings for New York

Ryan Yarbrough made two appearances for the Yankees during the period, though neither went smoothly. He allowed one earned run over 1.2 innings on Aug. 23 against the Blue Jays and gave up four earned runs over 3.0 innings on Aug. 29 against the Red Sox, with his ERA ticking up to 3.91. Still, the veteran left-hander continues to provide organizational depth for New York as rosters stretch thin in the late-season grind.

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Three ODU alumni. Two franchises with playoff implications. One standout week for the Monarchs' MLB contingent — and it was Young and Pasquantino doing the heavy lifting.

When Jared Young arrived in New York, the question wasn't whether he could hit — it was whether he'd get enough chances to prove it. Over the past week, the Old Dominion alum has answered emphatically.

Young went 3-for-3 with an RBI in Sunday's win over Pittsburgh, then kept rolling with a pair of hits and two RBIs on Monday against Atlanta. He added another hit Wednesday to extend the streak before delivering his signature moment of the week on Friday night: a solo home run against the Nationals that helped the Mets to a 4-1 victory. Francisco Lindor also went deep, but it was Young's blast that underscored just how comfortable the Old Dominion product has become in the big-league lineup. He capped the weekend Saturday with two more hits and two RBIs against Washington, pushing his average from .258 to .266 across a five-game stretch in which he collected nine hits.

Mets interim manager Andy Green took notice. Prior to Monday's series opener with Atlanta, Green spoke publicly about Young making the most of his opportunity — a sign that the organization sees more than just a hot week. For an ODU product who has had to claw for every at-bat, that kind of institutional confidence matters.

A Second ODU Arm in New York

Young isn't the only Monarch making his mark in the majors this week. Ryan Yarbrough, a fellow Old Dominion alum, worked 1.1 innings out of the Yankees bullpen Thursday against Seattle, striking out two and carrying an ERA of 3.57. Yarbrough has quietly become a reliable late-inning option for New York, adding another layer to an already deep ODU presence in the big leagues.

The Bigger Picture

Old Dominion's MLB footprint is quietly impressive. Between Young and Yarbrough in New York, Vinnie Pasquantino anchoring first base in Kansas City, P.J. Higgins catching in Cincinnati, Justin Verlander back with Detroit, and Connor Overton also on the Mets roster, the Monarchs have alumni scattered across the league in meaningful roles.

But this week belongs to Young. Nine hits, five RBIs, a home run, and a batting average nudging toward .270 — that's not a hot streak, that's a statement. For Old Dominion fans, it's the kind of week worth paying attention to.