Mariners' Second Base Battle Nearing a Clear Winner

Cole Young emerges as frontrunner for Mariners' second base job this spring

Mar. 13, 2026 at 3:36pm

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The Seattle Mariners' second base competition appears to be trending towards Cole Young as the clear winner, according to recent reports. Young has impressed this spring with his production at the plate, raising hopes that he can provide stability and offense at a key position for the Mariners in 2026.

Why it matters

The Mariners need a consistent presence at second base to support their star-studded lineup, and Young's strong spring performance suggests he may be ready to take on that role after a up-and-down rookie season in 2025.

The details

Young has been one of the Mariners' most productive hitters in Cactus League play, batting .273 with a 1.065 OPS, 4 home runs, 11 RBIs and 2 stolen bases in 33 at-bats. He's shown the ability to make quality contact and drive the ball, which the Mariners believe can raise their offensive floor if he can carry that over to the regular season.

  • As of March 13, Young was leading the Mariners' second base competition.
  • On March 1, Young crushed a two-run homer.
  • On March 11, Young hit an RBI double and a go-ahead homer.

The players

Cole Young

A Mariners prospect who is emerging as the frontrunner for the team's second base job after an impressive spring training performance.

Leo Rivas

A Mariners infielder who is still in the mix for the second base job, but appears to be trailing Young at this point.

Colt Emerson

A Mariners infielder who is also competing for the second base role, but is considered a longshot compared to Young.

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What they’re saying

“Cole Young has seized the opportunity this spring, which is exactly the kind of language you use for a job that's won.”

— Daniel Kramer, MLB.com writer (MLB.com)

“There may not be another hitter on the roster who could raise Seattle's offensive floor more in 2026, and that gets to the heart of this whole thing.”

— Daniel Kramer, MLB.com writer (MLB.com)

What’s next

The Mariners have not officially announced their starting second baseman, but all signs point to Cole Young emerging as the winner of the competition if he can continue his strong spring performance into the regular season.

The takeaway

The Mariners' second base battle appears to be trending towards Cole Young as the clear frontrunner, providing the team with a potential offensive boost at a key position if he can build on his impressive spring training showing.