Mariners select SS Cole Young with the 21st pick in the 2022 MLB draft

During the 2021 MLB Draft, there weren’t a ton of options for the Mariners with the 12th pick. There were only a handful of players that people thought would be available and possible picks for the Mariners. 2022 was a lot different with the M’s being back at 21. They ended up getting a pretty good young SS in high schooler Cole Young.

Young comes out of North Alleghany High School in Pennsylvania and was rated as the 20th best prospect over at MLB Pipeline. Although he was the 5th SS taken this year in the draft, he was the 4th rated SS in this year’s draft.

As you would expect for a high schooler taken this high, Young raked in high school. During his career at North Alleghany, he hit .428 in about 200 at-bats, with 17 2B, 9 3B, and 11 HR. He scored and drove in a run nearly every time he got a hit, with 86 hits resulting in 73 runs and 64 RBI.

The Mariners got a strong defender with a great hit tool in Cole Young

At 6’0 and 180 lbs, the tool that stands out with Young is the hit tool. Coming in at a 60 grade, it’ll be fun to see how that carries throughout the Minors, especially as he faces guys in their 20s who have had a chance to develop their stuff a bit more. He currently has enough power to find alleys, and we should see that increase a bit as he matures. He doesn’t project as a 25 HR guy, but double-digits are within reason.

A righty in the field and a lefty at the plate, Young doesn’t swing and miss much, an impressive tool for a teen. He also showed a matured ability to use the entire field, which helped get that hit tool to 60. With above-average speed, he’s able to use those alleys to get doubles and improve his worth.

He’s an above-average fielder as well, with the arm slotting in a bit better than the glove. It’s why he projects to stay at SS, having the arm to do so, and enough range and feel to play the position well.

It’s a bit harder to know what to think with the high school picks, as there just isn’t as much tape on them as there is with the college kids, obviously. Although I’m not a Duke fan, that is where he was projected to go. It’s a great school, so you know Young has a good head on his shoulders. It should make fans feel good and confident that Young is going to grind away and focus on improving.

It’s not as exciting as Harry Ford from last year, but that should be expected with a pick that’s 21st instead of 12th. However, it does seem like the Mariners got a great young shortstop that should be fun to watch make his way through the farm system. Welcome to the Mariners, Cole Young!