Why Mariners' newest red-hot prospect faces an unfortunate dilemma

Seattle Mariners fans have been waiting patiently to see Cole Young make the leap, and now the 21-year-old shortstop is starting to look the part. After stumbling out of the gates with Triple-A Tacoma, the Mariners’ third-ranked prospect is suddenly red-hot, and his recent tear is turning heads.

Young has lifted his batting average from .191 to .223 and seen a notable jump in OPS from .535 to .685 — all in the span of one week. Over his last 10 games, he’s slashing .300/.349/.600, tallying 12 hits, including two home runs, two doubles, and a pair of triples. Most impressively, nine of those hits have come across four consecutive multi-hit performances.

This is the version of Cole Young Mariners fans envisioned when he was drafted 21st overall in 2022 — a high-contact, high-IQ infielder with sneaky pop and smooth instincts. However, while his bat is finally waking up, his path to the majors is far less clear than it was just a few weeks ago.

Cole Young is heating up — but the Mariners are in no hurry

Earlier this season, an injury to Ryan Bliss and the utility demands placed on Dylan Moore could’ve opened the door for Young. Had he been producing at this level then, there's a real case he would’ve gotten the nod. Case in point: when Seattle opted for Ben Williamson, who was called up after just 14 Triple-A games out of sheer necessity.

Now, the infield picture is far less volatile. J.P. Crawford is scorching at the plate and anchoring shortstop. Meanwhile, Leo Rivas and Moore are forming a surprisingly productive second base tandem, combining for a 150 wRC+ at the keystone. The Mariners, winners of nine consecutive series, have surged to the top of the AL West standings and look like one of the league’s hottest teams heading into mid-May. Simply put, what they’re doing is working.

That’s not a bad thing for Young. If anything, this stretch provides him a valuable runway to build on his momentum without the pressure of an immediate promotion. He’s already weathered the early-season slump — now he can focus on refining his approach and proving he can sustain this level of production over a longer stretch.

Young’s time will certainly come. There’s a reason he’s been a fixture in top prospect conversations. If he continues to rake in Tacoma, the Mariners won’t be able to keep him down forever. His recent outburst is a reminder of just how high his ceiling is. So when the opportunity knocks again, he’ll be on the shuttle to T-Mobile Park. Until then, Cole Young will keep building in the shadows with the spotlight not far behind.