The Seattle Mariners infielder, slated to start the season at second base, is showing off his power this Cactus League season.
The Seattle Mariners routed the Cleveland Guardians 20-8 on Friday night in one of the last Cactus League tune-ups before the regular season begins next Thursday, ironically against this same Cleveland team.
The M's got home runs from Julio Rodriguez, Dominic Canzone, and Victor Robles - and Cole Young hit two.
And these home runs were certainly not cheap, as Canzone's was hit out of the stadium and Young's was the furthest home run hit at spring training by any player this year - 478 feet. As noted by Daniel Kramer of MLB.com, Young also hit the furthest home run of any Mariners player last season (456).
About Young
Now 22 years old, Young was a first-round pick of the Mariners in the 2022 draft out of the Pennsylvania high school ranks. A Top 100 prospect at the time of his promotion (May 31), he hit .211 with four homers and 24 RBIs in his first season. He went through a dreadful August and was benched most of September in favor of Jorge Polanco.
The Mariners didn't put him on the playoff roster as they advanced to the American League Championship Series against the Toronto Blue Jays.
About his spring
So far, Young has played like he knows he belongs as the team's starting second baseman in 2026. He's hitting .294 in the Cactus League with six homers, 18 RBIs and a .368 on-base percentage.
Assuming he earns the starting nod on Opening Day, he'll look to provide a stability that hasn't been seen at second base since Robinson Cano was with the organization from 2014-18.
Seattle Mariners infielder Cole Young against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn ImagesWhat he's saying
We had an opportunity to catch up with Young at spring training in Peoria, Ariz.
On what he learned about the grind of a big-league season in 2025:
I'd say the biggest thing I learned about the grind is just the importance of having a solid routine each day. Whether it's getting in the training room each day, going in the weight room to lift, whatever it is. But just having a consistent routine, it just helps you play 162 games, and it'll help you with the mental side of it too.
On what he took from the team's playoff run despite not being on the roster:
Yeah, I learned a lot. The biggest thing I learned is that this is where you want to be. You want to be playing in the playoffs at the end of the year. You don't want to go home after September. So, the playoffs is, that's where all the fun's at. And that's the biggest thing I learned from watching it. And, obviously, there's other little things that I learned too, but that's the biggest thing: you want to be playing in the playoffs in October and that's where all the fun's at.
The Mariners and Guardians will play each other on Opening Day at 7:10 p.m. PT. Logan Gilbert will pitch for Seattle.
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