Cole Douglas Young Bio
Cole Douglas Young is an American professional baseball second baseman and shortstop for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB). Born on July 29, 2003, in Wexford, Pennsylvania, Young emerged as one of the top prospects in the 2022 MLB Draft before establishing himself as a key contributor in Seattle’s infield. He made his MLB debut on May 31, 2025, delivering a game-winning RBI in his first major league appearance. Through June 2026, Young has compiled a career batting average of .240 with 13 home runs and 64 runs batted in across parts of two major league seasons.
Early Life and Background
Young grew up in Wexford, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh. His passion for baseball emerged early, and in 2014 he achieved national recognition by winning the Major League Baseball Pitch, Hit & Run competition in the 9-and-10-year-old division. The competition took place at Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins. This early accomplishment hinted at the promising career that lay ahead for the young Pennsylvania native.
Young attended North Allegheny High School in Wexford, where he quickly distinguished himself as an exceptional talent. As a high school freshman, he committed to play college baseball for the Duke Blue Devils, demonstrating his dedication to advancing his baseball career at the collegiate level. He also became the first freshman ever to earn a spot on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s All Area team, setting a new standard for young players in the region.
Path to Professional Baseball
Young’s high school career was marked by impressive statistical achievements and national exposure. His sophomore season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but he returned stronger in his junior year, batting .437 with 33 runs scored, 23 RBIs, and 14 extra-base hits. That summer, he participated in the High School All-American Game at Coors Field, held before the 2021 MLB All-Star Game, further cementing his status as a top national prospect.
As a senior at North Allegheny High School, Young continued his stellar performance by hitting .433 with 2 home runs. Remarkably, he topped the .400 mark in every season of his high school career, showcasing remarkable consistency at the plate. His outstanding high school career positioned him as one of the most highly regarded prospects heading into the 2022 Major League Baseball Draft.
Cole Douglas Young Career
Amateur and Draft (2022)
Young was considered a top prospect for the 2022 MLB Draft, with multiple scouting services projecting him as a first-round selection. The Seattle Mariners ultimately chose Young with the 21st overall pick in the first round. He signed with the Mariners on July 26, 2022, receiving a $3.3 million signing bonus, reflecting the organization’s high expectations for his future contribution to the franchise.
His professional career began quickly, as he played for the Arizona Complex League Mariners for one week in August 2022 before moving up to the Modesto Nuts for 10 games. This accelerated introduction to professional baseball demonstrated the Mariners’ commitment to challenging their top prospect with increasing levels of competition.
Minor League Development (2023–2024)
Young returned to Modesto for the start of the 2023 season before receiving a promotion to the Everett Aquasox in July. He demonstrated improvement after the promotion, posting an .884 on-base plus slugging percentage with Everett compared to his .825 mark with Modesto. This adjustment to higher-level pitching signaled his readiness for continued advancement through the Mariners’ farm system.
Prior to the 2024 season, Young achieved a significant milestone by earning recognition from all four major prospect ranking services. MLB.com, Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus, and FanGraphs all placed him among the top 70 prospects in minor league baseball. During the offseason leading into 2024, Young added 10 pounds of muscle through dedicated weightlifting training. He spent the 2024 season with the Double-A Arkansas Travelers, where he batted .271 with a .369 on-base percentage and .390 slugging percentage, adding 9 home runs and 23 stolen bases. He also represented the organization at the 2024 All-Star Futures Game. After the season, Young acknowledged that he initially attempted to hit for more power in 2024 but adjusted his approach, partly due to playing in a pitcher-friendly home ballpark environment. He concluded his 2024 campaign by playing one game for the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League.
Seattle Mariners Era (2025–Present)
Young began the 2025 season with the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers, continuing his development at the highest minor league level. He ranked as a top 60 minor league prospect by several outlets entering the season. In 54 appearances for Tacoma, Young batted .277 with a .392 on-base percentage and .461 slugging percentage, adding 5 home runs, 26 RBIs, and 4 stolen bases, demonstrating the well-rounded offensive game that had made him a top prospect.
On May 30, 2025, Young was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time in his career. The next day, in his first major league game, he delivered immediately by recording a game-winning RBI in the bottom of the 11th inning. After experiencing early struggles in his first week at the major league level, Young adjusted and batted .281 with a .361 on-base percentage from June 7 through August 15. However, he experienced a late-season decline, losing the second base position after September 1 to healthy players Jorge Polanco and Leo Rivas. Young finished his rookie season batting .211 with a .302 on-base percentage and .305 slugging percentage, with 4 home runs.
Defensive Position and Skills
Young has developed versatility in the middle infield, playing both second base and shortstop at the professional level. His defensive flexibility provides the Seattle Mariners with valuable roster options and matchup possibilities. His arm strength and range have been praised by scouts throughout his development, though he continues to refine his defensive consistency at the major league level.
Notable Moments and Milestones
The most memorable moment of Young’s early career came in his MLB debut on May 31, 2025, when he delivered a walk-off RBI in the 11th inning to win his first major league game. This dramatic introduction to MLB gave fans and the organization a glimpse of his ability to perform under pressure. His selection to the 2024 All-Star Futures Game represented another significant milestone, showcasing his status as one of baseball’s top young prospects on a national stage.
Cole Douglas Young Career Statistics
Young has compiled his major league statistics across parts of two seasons with the Seattle Mariners. His offensive production through June 29, 2026, reflects his development trajectory as he continues to adjust to major league pitching.
Major League Baseball Highlights
Through June 29, 2026, Young has appeared in multiple major league games, establishing himself as a regular contributor in Seattle’s infield. His career batting average stands at .240, with 13 home runs and 64 RBIs. These statistics represent his performance across his first full major league season plus partial production from his rookie campaign, showing the offensive potential that made him a first-round draft selection. His ability to drive in runs and hit for power has become a notable aspect of his game at the highest level.
Minor League Development Summary
Prior to his MLB promotion, Young demonstrated consistent offensive production across multiple minor league levels. He showed particular improvement after promotions, posting stronger numbers at each successive level. His 23 stolen bases with Arkansas Travelers in 2024 highlighted his speed and baserunning ability, complementing his power-hitting profile.
| Competition Level | Games | Batting Average | Home Runs | Runs Batted In |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Major League Baseball (2025–2026) | Multiple | .240 | 13 | 64 |
| Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers (2025) | 54 | .277 | 5 | 26 |
| Double-A Arkansas Travelers (2024) | Multiple | .271 | 9 | Multiple |
Personal Life
Young was born and raised in Wexford, Pennsylvania, where he attended North Allegheny High School. His upbringing in the Pittsburgh area provided him with access to strong baseball development programs and a competitive athletic environment. The support system in his hometown played a role in his development into a professional athlete.
Young maintains an active presence on social media, connecting with fans through his Instagram account. His journey from winning youth competitions in Pennsylvania to reaching the major leagues represents a significant achievement for the young infielder, who continues to work toward establishing himself as a consistent contributor for the Seattle Mariners organization.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked Young’s rookie campaign in Major League Baseball following his rapid ascent through the Seattle Mariners minor league system. Promoted from Triple-A Tacoma on May 30, he made an immediate impact by delivering a game-winning RBI in his debut the following day. The early portion of his rookie season presented challenges as he adjusted to major league pitching, but he demonstrated resilience by hitting .281 over a two-month stretch from mid-June through mid-August.
Despite the late-season struggles that resulted in him losing the starting second base job, Young showed enough promise to remain in the organization’s plans for the future. His ability to play both second base and shortstop provides defensive versatility that the Mariners value. The 2025 season served as a learning experience for the young infielder, who will look to build upon his initial major league exposure as he enters the 2026 campaign with another year of MLB experience under his belt.