Seattle made a significant move, recalling their No. 3 organizational prospect and No. 43 overall prospect in MLB Pipeline, Cole Young, from Triple-A Tacoma. The news, initially reported by Daniel Kramer of MLB.com is causing excitement among Mariners fans and fantasy baseball managers across the board. 

Young is a 21-year-old second baseman and has been destroying the minors; now he gets to make his impact felt at the big league level. Let's analyze what the call-up is going to mean for the fantasy baseball enthusiasts by exploring Young's prospect ranking, stats, and what the fantasy future has for him.

 

Cole Young Prospect Status

Cole Young has been a highly touted prospect ever since the Mariners selected him with their No. 21 overall selection in the 2022 MLB Draft. Young, only 18 years old, started off his professional career with a rousing success in the Complex League and Low-A levels, showing off his advanced hit tool and patience at the plate. 

Fast forward through 2025 and Young has made himself one of the game’s top prospects, ranking as the No. 3 Mariners organizational prospect and No. 43 overall in MLB Pipeline's ratings.

Young's minor league development has been characterized by steady increases. After splitting time between Low-A and High-A in 2023, he saw just Double-A time in 2024 and kept improving. 

His Triple-A Tacoma campaign in 2025 was nothing short of phenomenal, and the month of May in particular, in which he led all Triple-A performers with 37 base knocks and slash-lined a scorching .370/.466/.680 in 118 trips to the plate. 

Combined with the Mariners' desire for a quality second base currently occupied by the likes of Leo Rivas, Miles Mastrobuoni, and Dylan Moore, the call-up came. 

Seattle President of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto sang the praises of Young's recent performance, talking about his ability to consistently barrel up baseballs and move past the adversity of the past. Seattle being in the mix for a playoff inclusion, Young will assuredly be a valuable piece of their middle infield down the stretch of the 2025 schedule.

 

Cole Young Stats

Take a closer inspection of Cole Young's statistical development across the minors, as shown in the attached document, in order to truly appreciate what he has to offer.

  • 2022 (Low-A and Complex League, age 18): Young hit .367 with a .423 OBP and .517 SLG in 17 games and 71 plate appearances, with a 147 wRC+. He showed a good approach with a 11.3% walk rate and 11.3% strikeout rate, and he also swiped 4 bases. His .150 ISO was early power for an 18-year-old.
  • 2023 (Low-A and High-A, Age 19): Young played in 126 games across two levels with 606 plate appearances. He hit .277 with a .399 OBP and .448 SLG, with a 133 wRC+. His power improved with 11 home runs and a .172 ISO, and he had 22 stolen bases. His walk rate (14.5%) and strikeout rate (14.9%) remained elite, evidence of his advanced plate skills.
  • 2024 (Double-A, age 20): Young batted .271 with a .369 OBP and .390 SLG in 124 games and 552 plate appearances and hit like a 130 wRC+ player. His power declined (9 HR, .119 ISO), but he still walked at a good 12.1% rate and swiped 23 bags, demonstrating that his speed remained a strength.
  • 2025 (Triple-A, Age 21): Young hit .278 in 53 games and 243 plate appearances with a .391 OBP and .463 SLG and 124 wRC+. Five home runs accompanied a .185 ISO as walk (12.3%) and strikeout (11.5%) rates remained amongst the game's best. A .302 BABIP suggests room to grow as he gets used to competing against advanced-level competition.

Young's numbers demonstrate consistency and advanced plate strategy. That he is maintaining walk rates, reducing strikeouts, and giving stolen bases is a quality overall prospect profile. While the power is developing, the triple-A high hard-hit rate of the moment (45.7 percent in May 2025) is evidence he is tapping into more extra-base ability, something positive as he heads to the MLB.

 

Cole Young Fantasy Baseball Outlook

For fantasy baseball managers, Cole Young's call-up is an intriguing one, especially for keeper and dynasty league managers whose time horizon matches his elite long-term forecast. Here is a fantasy forecast for the major categories:

Batting Average: Young's calling card is the hit tool and scouts consistently grade it as a plus tool. The minor-league career average of nearly .280 and the minimal strikeout rate are indicators he'll be able to hit for a good average in the bigs—perhaps in the .270-.290 neighborhood once he gets acclimated. His high BABIP the past couple of seasons portends he'll be able to keep the average up with consistent contact.

Power: Power is a work in progress for Young. His ISO has varied between .119 and .185 the past two seasons, and while he has shown occasional bursts of extra-base pop (5 HR in 53 games at Triple-A), he won’t be a home run hitter. His fantasy owners will be able to project 10-15 HR for a full year, with room for development as he reaches physical maturity.

Speed: Young has consistently stolen bases in the minors, with 22 in 2023 and 23 in 2024. Although he only stole 4 bases in 53 games at Triple-A in 2025, he is still a speed asset. He might contribute 15-20 stolen bases per year in the big leagues, and he is valuable in roto leagues as a result.

RBI and Runs: Being a middle infielder and possible lower-half-of-the-order hitter for the Mariners initially this season, Young's chances at RBIs could be limited. But he has the ability to carry a high OBP (.391 at the Triple-A level) and that will give him a decent run-scoring total, especially if he is bumped up the order at any point. Project 50-60 runs and 40-50 RBI for the full year, with growth as he gets acclimated. 

Position and Playing Time: Young is a second baseman, and the Mariners desperately need him at this position. Because Seattle is playing for a division championship, he is going to get consistent playing time even though he has the occasional adjustment time as a 21-year-old in the major leagues. 

His second-base defense is sound, and this will keep him in the lineup. Young is a fantasy add for middle infield bench help, primarily in deeper leagues. His multiple-dimensional tool set—average, speed, and ability to get on base—works to make him a good bench asset, even if the absence of power keeps his near-future ceiling at bay. 

Young is a dynasty league must-roster prospect and has top-10 overall positional upside long-term. His promotion is a show of faith from the Mariners that he is up to the task of producing now, and his polished approach will keep the inevitable MLB-level growing pains from reaching extreme levels. 

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