Cole Young’s Elite Bat: The Answer to Seattle’s Second Base Woes?
A Blog By Robbie
As I am currently writing this, it’s hard to find many minor league hitters hotter than the Mariners’ 3rd ranked prospect, Cole Young.
Cole Young’s last 24 games:
.371 AVG
.455 OBP
.691 SLUG
1.146 OPS
5 HR
20 RBI
12 BB
The scorching hot run that Cole Young has been on has left Mariners’ fans wondering when the call to the show is arriving, and as the days go on, it seems imminent. The 21-year-old infielder, ranked No. 43 overall by MLB Pipeline, continued to make a name for himself this Wednesday as he came out guns ablazing… a five-hit game including two doubles, two runs, and a pair of runs topped off with a stolen base.
Young, taken No. 21 overall in 2022 from the Pittsburgh area, made his Triple-A debut at the beginning of the 2025 campaign, however, he had a slow start, for his standards at least. That being said, the 5-foot-11, 190-pounder has caught fire, and along the way, he won PCL Player of the Week honors for May 5-11. Young turned pro after he lit up high school ball (North Allegheny High School in Wexford, Pennsylvania), where he split time between second base and shortstop. Young’s high school career was defined by his advanced hit tool, which is still his current-day strong suit. He showed off his exceptional contact skills and mature strike zone discipline, with nearly as many walks (88) as strikeouts (90) in his first full professional season in 2023, down in low and high-A. His exceptional eye for the zone in 2023 has only improved since, as he currently sports a well above average 12.3% BB rate and an 11.5% K rate.
Young has shown an ability to spray the ball hard to all fields from the left side of the plate. Along with his impressive contact skills, he’s added strength since being drafted, which is shown by his 44% hard hit rate, which happens to be the same hard hit rate as Julio Rodriguez. Yes, I understand that a 44% hard hit rate in Triple-A does not translate directly to the bigs, but it’s still a telling tale in terms of potential.
Scout the Statline (StS) projects the Pittsburgh native to keep the hot streak going once getting the call to the show. Their Peak Projections include a slashline of .264/.357/.415 with 13 homers. The projections also highlight the elite plate discipline that he is known for, with a projection of an 11% BB rate and a 15% K rate, both above average. Young's sneaky speed is also on display in the projections, with 14 stolen bases.
Why Cole Young Should Be On Your Radar
✅ Defensive Versatility: His smooth hands and above-average range make him a reliable defender. The 55-grade arm (MLB.com) and improved footwork, noted by Baseball America, allow him to handle both middle infield spots. His versatility gives Seattle some much-needed flexibility to keep his bat in the lineup, whether at second base, shortstop, or designated hitter, increasing his chances of a callup and playing time.
✅ Plus Speed and Base-Stealing Ability: Young’s 50-grade speed, per StS, adds some depth in Young’s profile. His quick first step and base-running instincts make him a constant threat to swipe bags. In 2024, he swiped 23, and so far in 2025, he has five triples.
✅ Elite Contact Bat: Cole Young’s bat is a standout. His 60-grade hit tool, per StS and MLB.com, shines through with his elite walk and strikeout rate, which I mentioned earlier, alongside his .372 BABIP, which showcases his ability to barrel line drives consistently.
Where He’ll Fit In
With the Seattle Mariners needing a boost at second base due to Jorge Polanco’s lingering injuries, I could see Cole Young’s call to the show arriving within the next couple of weeks. J.P. Crawford is completely pencilled in at shortstop, so unless he goes down, second base is likely the spot where he’ll fit in. The Mariners have rotated Dylan Moore (18 starts), Leo Rivas (15 starts), and Miles Mastrobuoni (9 starts) at second, so they have yet to solidify an everyday second baseman… that’s where Young could come into the picture. Leo Rivas would most likely be the player to get sent down, since he hasn't been in the starting lineup for many games. Rivas plays second and short, which are the two positions that Young plays. Cole Young’s blazing hot bat and versatile skill set position him as the potential answer to Seattle’s second base woes. His call-up will electrify the Mariners’ lineup and bolster their current AL West charge.