Mariners' Cole Young Named Gold Glove Award Finalist
Seattle infielder Cole Young earns recognition as a top defensive player for his performance at second base this season.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Baseball
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Seattle Mariners second baseman Cole Young has been named a finalist for the American League Gold Glove Award. He joins fellow nominees Michael Massey and Chase Meidroth in contention for the defensive honor.
Why it matters
The Gold Glove Award serves as the premier recognition for defensive excellence in Major League Baseball. Finalists represent the best fielding performers at their respective positions based on rigorous statistical evaluation.
Cole Young appeared in 157 games and logged 1,350 1/3 innings during the 2026 season. He recorded 223 putouts and 397 assists throughout his campaign.
The players
Cole Young
He is a 23-year-old infielder for the Seattle Mariners who demonstrated elite defensive capabilities at second base during the 2026 season.
Michael Massey
He is a professional baseball player competing against Young for the American League second base Gold Glove Award.
Chase Meidroth
He is a professional baseball player recognized as a fellow finalist for the second base Gold Glove Award.
Luke Raley
He is the Seattle Mariners finalist for the Heart & Hustle Award, which honors players who demonstrate a passion for the game.
Julio Rodriguez
He is the Seattle Mariners nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, which recognizes players for their sportsmanship and community involvement.
The details
Young successfully navigated a high-volume defensive season to maintain his spot as a top contender at second base. The selection process involved a voting mechanism that determined the final group announced before the official ceremony.
Timeline
October 26, 2026: The Roberto Clemente Award is presented.
November 6, 2026: Silver Slugger finalists and Heart & Hustle winner are announced.
Week of November 9, 2026: BBWAA award winners are revealed.
November 11, 2026: The All-MLB Awards ceremony takes place.
Season Trajectory
This nomination highlights the defensive strength of the Seattle Mariners roster during a competitive 2026 campaign. It marks a significant individual achievement as the club awaits further recognition for other players across various end-of-season awards.
Young's inclusion as a finalist solidifies his role as a cornerstone defender in the Mariners' middle infield rotation. This recognition validates his high defensive runs saved metric, which serves as a key indicator for his value in both real-world lineups and fantasy baseball scoring.
The takeaway
Defensive statistics like fielding percentage and defensive runs saved have become essential for evaluating modern infielders. Fans and analysts should track these metrics to understand which players are providing the most value to their teams beyond traditional offensive production.
Further reading
For more news on local team developments, visit the Seattle Baseball section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by MLB.
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