Cole Young isn’t here by luck. Nor is it because the Mariners ran out of options.
Since Robinson Canó’s suspension in May 2018, the second base position in Seattle has become a persistently… familiar void. From veterans to prospects, platoon to makeshift solutions, the Mariners have tried everything—except finding the right answer. From 2018 to 2024, Seattle’s second basemen combined have only achieved an OPS of .651, the lowest in MLB. Eight years. A systemic scar.
Cole Young was called up on May 31, 2025, to end that cycle. But he didn’t—at least not immediately.
In 257 PA, Young achieved an OPS of .607 (81 wRC+). As the season entered the “results over experimentation” phase, his playing time vanished. He didn’t make it to the postseason. A rookie year often leaves many sighing and looking to other options — especially with Brendan Donovan arriving and Colt Emerson poised to knock on the door.
But the Mariners didn’t cut the cord.
Because behind the gloomy statline were signals the organization couldn’t ignore. Most notably, the 456-foot home run into the second tier of T-Mobile Park — the longest in the 2025 season, a top 10 Statcast record in Seattle. Exit velocity of 114.1 mph. Top 10% MLB. Such runs aren’t random; they’re indicators of potential ceilings.
The data supports it. Recent research shows that a rookie’s max exit velocity predicts a better future than even a first-season wRC+. Young has it. While power isn’t the most prominent tool in the initial scouting report, Director of Player Development Justin Toole once stated bluntly: “Cole’s power will surprise you.”
And Young’s batting style also hints at a path to success. Nearly 25% of his in-play balls are pull-side flyballs — above average. To homer, you need to send the ball into the air; to easily cross the fence, pull it toward the nearest side. Cal Raleigh proved this by leading MLB in 2025. Young doesn’t need to “hit hard all the time” — he needs to hit in the right direction.
Young’s biggest strength remains his plate discipline. K-rate 18.3%, BB-rate 10.9% — exactly as advertised. He understands the zone. He has the foundation of an “old-school leadoff/batting-second,” but is clothed in a modern style where 20 HR is no longer the privilege of a power hitter. Projection systems rate him higher than traditional scouting. One opposing executive called him “league model darling.”
The problem lies in rhythm and defense.
Young often swings too “big,” disrupting timing. Fastball in the zone has punished him. Perhaps they just need to… slow down. Or maintain the same approach and let timing catch up. The Mariners aren’t in a hurry for a major overhaul.
But the glove is unavoidable: -9 OAA in less than half the season. Terrible. Terrible. Unbelievable given scouting reports that once ranked him above average. That suggests an aberration—or injury. And indeed, there are reports of him injuring his shooting hand early in the season. If so, Spring Training would be a fairer test.
Young hasn’t been sold. Playing time is still open. That’s a clear sign. After nearly a decade of searching, the Mariners believe the answer may not come from the market—but from patience. Cole Young’s rookie year wasn’t successful. But with his almost limitless potential, perhaps Seattle is willing to wait a little longer for the final 2B wound to heal.
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