Cole Young's Spring Explosion Shifts Mariners' Second Base Debate

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Cole Young has been on a tear this spring for the Seattle Mariners, hitting a team-leading six home runs with 18 RBIs and a 1.093 OPS. His impressive performance has shifted the conversation around the Mariners' second base job, which was previously seen as an open competition. The Mariners have expressed confidence in Young, and his power display has made it harder to justify any scenario where he doesn't open the season as the starting second baseman.

Why it matters

Young's spring explosion is significant because it solidifies the Mariners' plans at second base, a position that was previously seen as up for grabs. If Young can carry this production into the regular season, it would provide a major boost to the Mariners' lineup and potentially shift the balance of power in the AL West.

The details

Young, a 22-year-old middle infielder, has been on a tear this spring, leading the Mariners with six home runs and 18 RBIs while slashing .294/.368/.725. His power display has included a 478-foot moonshot, the longest home run of the spring so far. The Mariners have expressed confidence in Young, with GM Jerry Dipoto saying he "looks unbelievable right now," and the team reportedly being reluctant to include him in trade talks involving Ketel Marte.

• On March 20, Young had a monster showing against the Cleveland Guardians.
• As of March 22, Young leads the Mariners with six spring home runs and an OPS of 1.093.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The Mariners will continue to evaluate Young's performance throughout the remainder of spring training, with the goal of determining if he is ready to be the team's starting second baseman on Opening Day.