It’s Time to Take Mariners’ Cole Young Seriously Among MLB’s Best Young Second Basemen

There were a lot of different paths the Seattle Mariners could have taken this offseason when it came to second base.

Jorge Polanco hit .329 with a 1.015 in the final five weeks of the season last year, splitting time between second base and designated hitter, but that path closed when the New York Mets signed him to a two-year, $40 million contract this winter, ending his tenure in Seattle. Luis Arraez was also a popular free agent who could play second base, while buzz surrounded a potential blockbuster trade for Ketel Marte. The Mariners decided to not pursue external candidates for second base. When they traded for Brandon Donovan, it was for him to play third.

This partially paved the way for the Mariners to give Cole Young a long runway as one of the franchise’s staple infielders.

Apparently, all Young needed was more time to settle into his Mariners uniform. Because now, he looks like one of the best young middle infielders in Major League Baseball.