Cole Young has been absolutely lights out since June 23, rocking a ridiculous 140 wRC+ and slashing .257/.297/.557 on the road trip to Pittsburgh and Cleveland. That’s a serious surge for the second-year Mariner, especially when you consider where he was just a few weeks prior. This kid, who prefers a vanilla latte and joggers over city exploration, clearly thrives on keeping things simple. It’s a philosophy that’s now driving his bat, too.
From “Simple” Success to May Mayhem
Young kicked off the season looking like a seasoned vet, carrying his strong early form into March and April with a 126 wRC+. We were all hyped, right? But then May hit, and it was rough. His wRC+ cratered to a brutal 66. It was a head-scratcher, honestly. He wasn’t really changing his plate discipline much, walking a little less (from 8.8% down to 7.2%), but still striking out at about the same rate, hanging around 20-21%. His hit distribution didn’t really scream “panic mode” either, staying half pull, a third up the middle, and the rest oppo. What *did* change was the ball hitting the dirt. His ground ball rate spiked from 30% all the way to 45%, and with that went his hard contact and line drives. May was just a parade of 4-3 groundouts, and it was tough to watch.
Edgar Martinez and the Art of the Simple Swing
But just when you thought the sophomore slump might stick around, June rolled in, and Young’s bat came roaring back. His line drive contact bounced right back to where it was in March and April, and his hard contact followed suit, hitting the exact same 32.6% mark. He stopped pulling the ball as much, and more importantly, he stopped pulling it on the ground. The biggest shocker? His K% absolutely plummeted to 9%. That’s insane! His average jumped by a hundred points from May, going from sub-Mendoza-line straight to All-Star territory. So, what was the secret sauce? Young himself says it was simplifying his approach even more. It’s no surprise that hitting coordinator Edgar Martinez was frequently spotted working with Young throughout his struggles in May and well into June. Edgar, the man who built a Hall of Fame career out of “see the ball, hit the ball,” helped Young extensively on his setup, making sure those hands were ready to fire so he could be on time for the fastball and drive it. Around late June, you could practically see the lightbulb go off as Young streamlined his approach, synchronizing lifting the bat off his shoulder with lifting his front foot. Young puts it simply: “It’s huge to have him.”
This kind of turnaround from Cole Young, especially under the tutelage of a legend like Edgar Martinez, is exactly what the Emerald City needs right now. We just saw the Mariners dominate the Cincinnati Reds with an 8-0 shutout victory. Young finding his rhythm, simplifying his game, and delivering at the plate? That’s not just big for him, it’s huge for the entire team as we push through this early season. We’re all here for more of that All-Star bat!
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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