The M’s just got swept by the Tampa Bay Rays, capping off a brutal 50th anniversary weekend with a 4-1 loss yesterday. You gotta be kidding me, right? It was a rough end to what should’ve been a celebration at T-Mobile Park.
Young’s Breakthrough & The Prospect Buzz
Okay, so the sweep stings, especially after a whole weekend dedicated to our history. Losing 4-1 on Sunday to finish it off? Ugh. It’s a tough pill to swallow when you’re hoping for a bounce-back. But let’s talk about a genuine, undeniable bright spot in what’s been, let’s face it, a pear-shaped season so far: Cole Young. This kid is on a mission. Remember how much he struggled with fastballs last year? In 2025, Young had the highest late swing percentage against fastballs in all of MLB! The average is 23%, so his number was way up there. But he’s gone and fixed it to kind of a wild extent, and the numbers don’t lie. His wOBA against fastballs has jumped from a rough .250 all the way to a stellar .341. That’s a massive, gotta-see-it-to-believe-it leap and exactly the kind of development we need. You can practically feel the confidence building in his at-bats.
And speaking of future talent, get this: our new prospect Boston Smith, who we snagged from the White Sox in the Luis Castillo trade, is absolutely tearing it up at Double-A Arkansas. He’s mashed five homers just in the last week! That’s making quite the first impression, showing off that power potential we crave. Nicole Pasia over at the Seattle Times even dropped a deep dive into all the weekend’s festivities, giving us an insider look at the T-Mobile Park vibes.
Around the League: Drama, Records, and Injuries
Beyond the Emerald City, there’s some serious drama unfolding. Shohei Ohtani, who’s been sidelined from pitching for over a month with knee soreness, has finally started playing catch. The Dodgers are still saying a regular-season return to the mound is on the table, so we’ll see if that miracle actually happens. Over in San Diego, the Padres signed Austin Hays to a big league deal. Hays had a dismal 50 wRC+ with the White Sox in just 44 plate appearances this season, battling injuries, so maybe a change of scenery helps him bounce back down the stretch.
Then there’s the wild man, Chris Sale, who got himself ejected from yesterday’s game *before a single pitch was thrown*. Apparently, he was still fuming about a balk call from Saturday. That’s Sale for you, untethered! And a huge shoutout to A’s shortstop Jacob Wilson, who just etched his name in the record books. He’s now set a Major League record with 111 consecutive error-free games at short. That’s some serious leather, following right in his dad’s footsteps and then some. On a less fun note, Rays righty Griffin Jax, who was scratched from Saturday’s game, is now officially on the 15-day IL with elbow discomfort. Wishing him a speedy recovery.
So, yeah, the sweep hurts, and today’s a merciful off day to lick our wounds before we hit the road. But strap in, because the M’s are heading out on a grueling three-city road trip next. We’ll need Cole Young to keep bringing that fire he’s found at the plate, and it’ll be exciting to watch Boston Smith keep mashing down in Arkansas. This season’s been a rollercoaster, but guys like Young are what we play for, and what gives us hope. Let’s see what our squad brings on the road, because we need to turn this thing around!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Lookout Landing.
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