Infielder Cole Young:  The newest star prospect to come through Everett

Cole Young is a 19-year-old shortstop from North Alleghany, PA, a suburb of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. The Mariners’ first-round pick of the 2022 draft, Young, has high expectations on his shoulders, something he has been preparing for since he was a little kid in the streets of the Pittsburgh suburbs.

“I started loving the game when I was in my backyard playing wiffle ball with these people around the neighborhood,” Young said. “As I got older, I started playing baseball, and I always loved playing the game.”

Young fell in love with the Shortstop position as he grew into himself. He became a student of the game, studying big league shortstops and modeling himself after them.

“There are so many players I looked up to. I mean growing up I would watch all the shortstops in the MLB just to see what they do, how they field, how they hit. Honestly, I would watch every single shortstop in the Major Leagues.”

When he graduated high school, Young was faced with choosing to go to college or play professional baseball. Once again, it was his love for the game that drove his decision.

“I wanted to play baseball every single day, I wanted to play this many games, I wanted to get better every single day, so it was a pretty easy decision,” Young said.

This decision comes a lot easier when you have the pedigree that Young has. The 2022 first-round pick batted .428 in his high school career and .433 his senior year. He came into the 2022 draft as one of the best and most intriguing draft prospects available.

Still, coming straight out of high school into college comes with lots of adjustments both baseball-wise and life wise, adjustments Young seems to be taking in stride.

“It’s completely different, you got guys throwing 100 (miles per hour) here, whereas in high school guys are throwing 82 or 78, so that’s the biggest difference. The pace of the game is faster, more fans, all that stuff,” Young said.

On the life side, Young is still learning how to be a 19-year-old east coast kid living by himself on the other side of the country.

“Last year was definitely an adjustment just going from East Coast to West Coast,” Young said. “Just living on my own because I didn’t go to college, so when I first got drafted it was a little weird being on my own,” Young said.

Despite all the expectations and difficulties involved with living on his own, Young is just happy that he gets to play the sport he loves.

“Not one baseball memory stands out to me, I think I am just grateful to play the game every single day,” Young said.

ABOUT THE EVERETT AQUASOX: The Everett AquaSox are the High-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. Everett is a member of the Northwest League and has been a Mariners affiliate since establishing the AquaSox moniker in 1995. For updates on the 2023 season, community initiatives and Webbly appearances follow the Frogs on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok or visit our website, AquaSox.com. Mini-plans, and group and picnic outings can be purchased by calling (425) 258-3673 or visiting the AquaSox Front Office at 3802 Broadway in Everett.