Cole Young has emerged as a standout defender amid the Seattle Mariners’ defensive struggles, earning a spot as a finalist for the 2026 Rawlings Gold Glove Award at second base. Despite the Mariners fielding one of the worst defensive units in Major League Baseball this season, Young’s performance drew enough attention from managers, coaches, and analysts to place him alongside American League Central contenders Michael Massey of the Kansas City Royals and Chase Meidroth of the Chicago White Sox.
Young’s defensive improvement has been noted particularly in his footwork and arm accuracy. While his foot speed remains average, his athleticism has allowed him to position himself effectively and execute plays with precision. According to Defensive Runs Saved (DRS), Young leads all second basemen with a +16 rating, ranking him as the eighth-best defender in the league overall. This metric contributed significantly to his Gold Glove candidacy.
However, other advanced metrics offer a more mixed view. Statcast’s Outs Above Average (OAA) places Young at -6, while his Fielding Run Value (FRV) sits at -5, indicating a less flattering assessment of his overall skill. The Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) and Rawlings’ Defensive Index, which incorporates DRS heavily, favored Young enough to include him in the Top-25 American League defenders through August 9, making him the only second baseman in that group.
Young’s arm strength, a long-standing issue, continues to lag behind his peers. Baseball Savant ranks his top 5% of throw velocities 380th out of 388 qualified players across all positions. His slower release and floating throws have contributed to the Mariners’ difficulties in turning double plays. Despite this, his arm accuracy has earned positive value in the FRV metric. His .990 fielding percentage in 1350.1 innings at second base leads all American League players at the position.
The Mariners’ overall defensive woes have made Young’s contribution more conspicuous. He was frequently the player managers and pitchers trusted to field ground balls during the 2026 season, a rare bright spot in an otherwise problematic infield setup. This trust in his defensive reliability likely played a role in his recognition as a Gold Glove finalist.
The award’s voting process combines 75% input from MLB managers and coaches with 25% from the SABR-Rawlings Defensive Index. Young’s strong showing in the DRS category and his standing among AL defenders have positioned him well in this mixed evaluation system.
The announcement of the Gold Glove winners will come on ESPN on Sunday, November 1. As the Mariners await the results, Lookout Landing Managing Editor Kate Preusser has pledged to get a thematic tattoo should Young win the award. Preusser mentioned she might honor the late infield coach Perry Hill with a bone-themed design if Young’s name is called.
Young’s nomination is a rare defensive bright spot in a challenging season for Seattle, reflecting his steady improvement and the respect he has gained across the league. The final decision will reveal whether his defensive metrics and on-field reliability convince the voters to hand him the Gold Glove at second base.
According to Yahoo Sports.
