The Mariners announced today that they are reinstating Bryce Miller ahead of today’s game to start against the Twins, but the most exciting news is they are calling up infielder Cole Young, who will start in today’s game.
After a spring training where he was slowed by a nagging shoulder issue, Young started off the year in Tacoma relatively slowly.
Young is hitting the ball harder than he has in the past while maintaining his excellent batted ball skills and disciplined approach.
Cole Young.
To make room for Bryce Miller, coming back from the IL, reliever Casey Legumina, the latest victim of the Mariners’ late-innings bullpen collapse.
Most excitingly, the Mariners have called up infielder Cole Young to start today’s game against the Twins. They also announced today that they are bringing back Bryce Miller to start.
Officially, the moment has now arrived. It has long been the case that when Mariner fans check online prospect rankings, Cole Young’s once-clean-shaven face is at the top of the list. After making his debut, the young infielder, who has been the apparent heir to the second base position for years, will formally begin his (ideally long) tenure.
Young had a slow start to the season in Tacoma owing to a persistent shoulder problem that hindered his spring training. However, a large amount of his problems could be attributed to pure bad luck in addition to his recuperation from his injury. He had been hitting the ball hard, putting it in play, avoiding strikeouts, and so forth. and just didn’t have anything to show. However, Young ended his first month of Triple-A in poor form after his slump deepened, with only encouraging K and BB rates to show for it. While not catastrophic, it’s definitely not what everyone was hoping for from Seattle’s best and most MLB-ready prospect.
But then everything changed when the calendar turned to May. Within a few weeks, Young’s season slash line went from well below average to comfortably above average as he went on an unconscious streak at the plate, completely dominating Triple-A pitching. Let’s examine the extent of his heater usage.
From 3/28 to 4/30: .190. 302. 257.
In any case, it’s a truly awful slashline.
Present: .366/, 5/1. 467. 673.
I think it’s pretty damn good!
Playing a few series away from home in ballparks that are more like launch pads than baseball fields has somewhat inflated some of the power numbers, but Young isn’t being called up for the counting stats just yet. While still displaying his superb batted ball skills and methodical approach, Young is hitting the ball harder than he has in the past. It is extremely difficult to walk more than you strike out in Triple-A, but accomplished at the age of 21 is a completely different kind of impressive.
Young’s performance at the plate as well as his journey to get there have impressed his new manager. Dan Wilson stated, “It’s amazing to see someone join Tacoma and get off to the start that he had, and then be able to really turn things around and get to a point where he’s feeling a lot or more like himself.”. We discuss identity a lot here, and that man is currently acting out his identity. “”.
If you are unfamiliar with Cole Young’s style of play, you can anticipate a glove at second base that is above average or better, as well as a high OBP approach at the plate. He won’t be hitting a lot of pop with his bat, but he’s also not swinging a noodle. His wheels are sturdy but unimpressive. He won’t be a significant threat in terms of base stealing, but his footspeed will make him useful on the basepaths. He’s hit at every level he’s played at, has a good arm for the right side of the infield, and range up the middle. Although it’s not the most attractive profile you’ll find on the farm, this team might benefit greatly from it.
Cole Young. Officially, I am now a Seattle Mariner.
The 40-man roster was reduced by DFAing reliever Will Klein to make room for Young. There is still a lot of potential in the nasty stuff from the 6’5″ hurler if he can improve his walks, but Klein’s command issues have remained in Tacoma thus far. Hopefully, he will be able to clear waivers and stay with the team.
Young was added to the 26-man roster by optioning Leo Rivas to Tacoma. Reliever Casey Legumina, the most recent victim of the Mariners’ late-inning bullpen collapse, gave way to Bryce Miller, who was returning from the injured list. was also lowered.
