5 buried Mariners who will have bigger roles on the 2026 roster

The Seattle Mariners have had plenty of young players step it up and provide valuable innings to the team in 2025. While these guys are currently buried on the roster, they will play a much bigger role in 2026.

5 buried Mariners who are poised to play a big role on the 2026 team

1. Cole Young

The Mariners' former first-round draft pick was doing well until he fell into an unprecedented slump in late August. Now, the second baseman has found himself benched in favor of Leo Rivas and Dominic Canzone, who have taken his at-bats — with Canzone at DH and Jorge Polanco shifting to 2B.

That doesn't mean Young will not have a place on the team in 2026. Whether it's as the team's starting second basemen or as a utility infielder, he will be back in 2026. And the Mariners will need him to improve, as there's like no way the team will be able to bring back Jorge Polanco, Josh Naylor, and Eugenio Suárez as free agents. At least one of their bats will be gone in the offseason, and Young will have another opportunity next spring.

2. Harry Ford

There's no way the Mariners will bring back Mitch Garver, who has severely underperformed since signing with Seattle prior to last season. Ford will need to step up as the team's backup catcher in 2026, and might be needed for more than that.

Cal Raleigh has been a workhorse in 2025, and might need more rest in 2026 to prevent an injury, The Mariners will need Ford to contribute for that to be feasible.

3. Logan Evans

Evans landed on the IL with an elbow injury in August, but it's easy to forget he was giving the Mariners solid starts filling in for the injured Bryce Miller and Logan Gilbert.

Assuming injuries will happen again in 2026 (and they are bound to), Evans will likely be back in the big leagues giving the Mariners more high-quality innings as needed.

4. Emerson Hancock

Hancock has moved into the bullpen, and while he has not done much, he's looked more confident in that role. It's still too soon for the Mariners to give up on their former No. 6 overall draft pick, so perhaps a permanent change of scenery as a reliever would be helpful.

Hancock will likely be a permanent member of the pen in 2026, and it will be interesting to see if he can reinvent himself as a dominant reliever.

5. Ben Williamson

The Mariners' young third baseman has likely earned himself another shot at the job in 2026. Williamson was slumping, and the Mariners needed offense, hence their trade for Suárez and the demotion of Williamson to Triple-A. But Williamson hit well in Tacoma down the stretch, and Suárez likely won't return to the Mariners next year.

Don't be surprised if Williamson is starting at third base on Opening Day for Seattle in 2026.