3 Mariners players who have surprised us so far in Spring Training

1st surprising performance this Spring: Cole Young, INF

Cole Young has been a stud so far this Spring. The former 1st round pick and number 1 Mariners prospect according to MLB Pipeline is showing why the Mariners used such a high pick on a high school shortstop. Young has sneaky power, and that showed with his mammoth home run earlier this Spring.

While that home run was fun to watch, that is not all he has done this Spring. Young is second on the team in hits (5) and is tied for the team lead in RBIs with 5. I know it is just the first week of Spring Training, but the kid is balling out. Cole Young will be a Mariner for a long time, though I doubt we see him in The Show in 2024.

Cole is still just 20 years old, and will not be 21 until the end of July. He also has not played above the Mariners' High A affiliate, the Everett Aqua Sox. What Cole can do now is play well enough to start out in Arkansas, the Mariners AA affiliate. Maybe we see him in September with the big club, but there is no need to rush him at this time. The Mariners have plenty of infielders, and they need to make sure that he is ready to go when that call does come.

For now, enjoy the show, because Cole Young is going to be a stud for years to come, just maybe not this year.