Mets’ Eric Young: Sportsmanship At Its Best [Video]

During the Mets-Braves game on Wednesday night, New York outfielder showed the fans what sportsmanship is all about.

Atlanta Braves starter Tim Hudson was in the middle of a shutout against the New York Mets when Eric Young Jr. hustled to first base, which Hudson was covering with his foot. That’s when tragedy struck.

Young was trying to beat the pitcher on the ground ball when he accidentally stepped on Hudson’s lower right leg as he attempted to get the out. One of those freak things that sometimes happen in sports.

The 38-year-old pitcher was seen falling to the ground immediately afterwards and bending his leg. Young immediately rushed to his side along with teammates and trainers to see what was wrong with Hudson.

The Braves pitcher was put on a stretcher and carried off the field with a season ending injury, as was reported later. He was diagnosed with a broken ankle after X-rays were performed.

Eric Young was visibly upset as he walked to the bench after the incident and appeared to be drying off tears with his shirt. He was still distraught after the game ended with the Mets losing 8-2.

“I saw his foot as I’m going for the base right there in the middle, and as I came down, I knew I didn’t get any of the base. I knew I got all of his foot,” Young said after the game. “I pretty much knew it was broke right when I did it. That’s why I ran back to him and tried to console him as much as I could and to apologize.”

In spite of his painful injury, Hudson was also gracious to Young when he came to talk to him on the field.

“I apologized to him, told him it was an accident. I obviously wasn’t trying to hurt him on the play,” Young said. “He just told me to keep my head up and keep playing the game the hard way, the right way. He said there was nothing I can do about it. That made me feel somewhat better, but still bummed that he’s going to be out for a while.”

Eric Young thanked fans for the support on Twitter.

Thankyou all for the kind words. I sincerely appreciate it. Continued prayers for a speedy recovery for Tim. Thankyou again. #praying4Tim

— Eric Young Jr (@EYJr) July 25, 2013

And apparently some think that he intentionally hurt Hudson. Really?

For ppl who think I would purposely try 2 hurt someone,& felt they needed to say that 2 me…I will continue 2 pray for u as well.#godbless

— Eric Young Jr (@EYJr) July 25, 2013

What do you think of how Eric Young reacted to the unintentional injury of Tim Hudson?

[Image via newyork.mets.mlb.com]