SEATTLE -- The Mariners have long believed that Cole Young is their second baseman of the future, and that future is rapidly becoming the present.
The rising 22-year-old demolished the first of what could be many home runs in 2026 on Friday night, sparking Seattle toward the first victory of its most anticipated season in recent memory -- maybe of all-time.
Along with four nifty plays in the field as part of a 5-1 win over the Guardians, Young was the night’s headliner. But a laser into the right-field bleachers from Luke Raley for the second straight night and six overwhelming innings from George Kirby were just as vital in allowing the Mariners to cruise to the type of victory that this roster was built for.
It’s a simple formula, really -- lots of run-production from a lineup without many holes, and lots of run-suppression from a starting rotation stacked with All-Stars.
“It is what this team does,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said.
With the most talented 26-man group of this era, Young is showing why he might be the piece that can raise the group’s floor -- maybe more than anyone.
Because he doesn't have to be a primary run producer. Because he’s going to bat near the bottom of the order. Because opposing teams aren’t circling him as the guy they can’t let beat them.
“It just felt nice to just help the team win today,” Young said. “It's good to keep continuing the hot streak ahead I had in spring.”
Indeed, Young led the team with six homers in Cactus League play, and nearly all of them were towering shots. He also had their longest homer last season (456 feet) -- and yes, including each of Cal Raleigh’s 60.
Yet, at 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds, Young packs more punch than most would think.
But what the Mariners have wanted to see after an 85-game rookie sample was better harnessing the strike zone and closing a few holes to his swing that he became susceptible to. That was as evident as ever on Friday, when he was on time to demolish a 96.8 mph fastball in an 0-2 count from Guardians ace Gavin Williams.
That one came with two outs in the fourth inning, at a time where the Mariners didn’t have much going -- just one hit and five walks, with nothing to show for [it] in the run column.
Whether it was jitters during a 3-for-51 rut to end last season, or simply a lack of development that he since achieved in the offseason, it was the type of swing against the type of pitch that Young felt he wasn’t capable of -- until now.
“No, definitely not,” Young said. “I think a lot of it's just routine, just understanding what I need to do before the game. So yeah, hitting off different types of fastballs before the game, or hitting foam balls before the game that simulates the spin rate the pitcher has.”
Young has been one of the Mariners’ more deliberate hitters with the Trajekt machine that simulates opposing pitchers. It’s not as effective for everyone, and there’s no replicating the intensity of a live at-bat. But it’s become an integral part of his routine, and one that wasn’t available at Triple-A Tacoma.
“I'd say more so just get the job done,” Young said. “I didn't want to strike out, obviously, so I just had to put the ball in play.”
It’s all trending towards the 2022 first-round Draft pick becoming a more well-rounded player, making his four plays in the field on Friday even more timely within the totality of his trajectory.
In the first inning, just after Kirby surrendered a solo homer to red-hot rookie Chase DeLauter, Young dove to his right and stabbed a 95.1 mph one-hopper from José Ramírez that seemed destined to find outfield grass. And as he peeled himself off the dirt to throw, Young couldn’t help but sport a wide smile.
He came back for a curtain call, also against Ramírez, fielding a 105.5 mph sizzler in the fourth, then again on a 107.6 mph grounder from DeLauter in the sixth. These weren’t nearly as flashy, but stacking solid reps builds confidence for any player -- but especially one so (pun intended) young.
“I worked really hard in the weight room and also did a lot of mobility stuff, too,” Young said. “So I think that's the combination of both, just improving my first step. It's a long season, too, so I've also got to stay on top of that every single day.”