Amidst a truly brutal year for the Mariners’ defense, a shocking bright spot emerged today: our guy Cole Young is officially a finalist for the Gold Glove Award at second base. Seriously, while the rest of the M’s infield often felt like a sinking ship, Young somehow managed to float above it all. He’s being recognized for his remarkable improvement in footwork and arm accuracy, squeezing every bit out of his athleticism and average foot speed.
The Numbers Game: Hero or Huh?
Alright, this is where it gets WILD, Seattle. Young is out here nominated for a Gold Glove, and the stats paint two totally different pictures. On one hand, his Defensive Runs Saved, that sweet +16, doesn’t just make him the best second baseman in the game, it puts him at EIGHTH best defender overall in baseball! That’s insane, right? He’s rubbing shoulders with the elite. You know managers and coaches make up 75% of the vote, and the SABR Defensive Index, which seems to love DRS, makes up the rest. So, he’s got a real shot, especially since he was the only AL 2B in the Top-25 defenders through August 9th. He’s up against Michael Massey from the Royals and Chase Meidroth of the White Sox.
But then you look at Statcast’s Outs Above Average, and it’s a completely different story. They’ve got Young at a -6 OAA and a cumulative -5 Fielding Run Value. What gives, right? How can one system say he’s an absolute wizard and another say he’s, well, not? This award truly is a curious case for our guy.
The Arm, The Accuracy, and The .990 Legend
We all know the “knock” on Young. His arm strength, bless his heart, clocked in at 380th out of 388 qualified players according to Baseball Savant. That’s, uh, not ideal. We’ve seen those slow hands and those floating throws, and yeah, it definitely didn’t help when the M’s infield struggled to turn double plays this year. It was frustrating to watch, I won’t lie.
BUT, here’s the thing that makes him special: even with that underwhelming pace, his arm accuracy is money. He earned positive value from Fielding Run Value just for *throwing* the ball, because when it left his hand, it was usually going where it needed to go. And get this: his .990 fielding percentage over an AL-leading 1350.1 innings at second base was the BEST in the American League. You can’t argue with that. It’s like he knows his limits and plays perfectly within them, making every single play he can, and doing it with precision. During a season where it felt like you just prayed a groundball didn’t get hit at our guys, Young was the one defender you could actually feel comfortable about.
So, yeah, fingers are absolutely crossed for Cole. This isn’t just about a shiny piece of hardware, though. This is about a promise. Lookout Landing Managing Editor Kate Preusser, an absolute legend, vowed earlier this year to get a thematic tattoo if Young pulled off the Gold Glove win. We’re talking a potential bone-themed design, an homage to departed infield coach Perry Hill, if Young’s name gets called. What started as a joke got real, and now it’s palpably possible. Get ready, Seattle, because this Gold Glove could mean more than just an award, it could mean a new piece of Mariners lore (and ink!) for the Emerald City. Let’s GO, Young!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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