Peoria, Arizona — Just a few months ago, Cole Young was a controversial figure within the Seattle Mariners. But now, he’s capturing the attention of the entire MLB — and could be an early contender for the Most Improved Player award.

After a tumultuous rookie season in 2025, Young is completely rewriting his story.

Cole Young entered the MLB as one of the Mariners’ brightest talents. However, his first season wasn’t a dream. Pushed into a starting role too early due to team injuries, Young struggled with inconsistent form and persistent physical issues.

The end-of-season statistics clearly reflected this: averaging only .211 batting and 4 home runs—not enough to convince the coaching staff that he was ready to become a key player.

He was even left out of the playoffs—a major shock for a young player once considered the team’s future.

But that setback created a turning point.

Entering the 2026 offseason, Young didn’t choose to rest—he chose a complete transformation.

From nutrition and fitness to technique, everything was upgraded. According to the Mariners’ coaching staff, Young has “transformed his entire body,” with noticeable improvements in strength, agility, and ball control.

Not stopping at physical improvement, he also invested heavily in technology. Young uses the Trajekt pitching simulator—a tool that simulates real-life pitching—to improve his reflexes and timing, especially when facing high-speed fastballs.

This wasn’t just training—it was a complete reprogramming of his approach to baseball.

The results came faster than expected.

In spring training 2026, Cole Young led the Mariners with six home runs, and also recorded some of the highest exit velocity hits on the team.

No longer a control-oriented hitter, Young now possesses added power—an element that was once his biggest weakness.

A recent game even saw Young “hit every pitch in sight and send the ball out of bounds,” showing his confidence and offensive instincts have returned strongly.

One of Young’s biggest problems last year was defense, especially when transitioning from shortstop to second base.

But now, he has improved significantly:

Smoother footwork
More accurate double-play handling
Consistent shooting after overcoming his hand problem

The coaching staff, including head coach Dan Wilson and infield expert Perry Hill, all appreciate his progress in both technique and game mindset.

Young isn’t just playing better — he understands the game better.

The Seattle Mariners enter the 2026 season with big ambitions — even predicted to have over a 60% chance of winning the AL West.

In a star-studded lineup like Julio Rodríguez or Cal Raleigh, Cole Young’s rise could be the perfect piece of the puzzle.

He doesn’t need to be an MVP; Young just needs to:

Maintain consistent on-base play
Add strength at the back of the lineup
Consolidate his interior defense

And if he can do that, the Mariners will have a balanced and extremely dangerous lineup.

From a player whose position was in doubt, Cole Young is now:

Competing for a starting spot
Impressing the coaching staff
Becoming one of the most talked-about names in spring training

All in just a few months.

While prediction systems remain cautious, it’s clear Young is making a very compelling early bid for the Most Improved Player award.

In baseball, talent can get you to MLB — but only adaptation will keep you going.

Cole Young has experienced both.

And if what’s happening isn’t just a temporary phenomenon, the Mariners don’t just have one Most Improved Player — they may have just found a true star for the future.