Cole Young Wins Gold Glove at Second Base

The Mariners infielder earns the American League second base honor, the team's first Gold Glove since 2024.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Baseball

Cole Young Wins Gold Glove at Second Base

Seattle Mariners second baseman Cole Young was named the 2026 American League Gold Glove winner at second base, beating finalists Michael Massey and Chase Meidroth. The award is Seattle's first Gold Glove since 2024 and the third at the position in franchise history.

Why it matters

Young's honor reflects an all-around season in which he led all American League second basemen in several defensive categories while also contributing offensively. It marks the first full-time infielder from the Mariners to win a Gold Glove since 2020.

Young recorded 223 putouts, 397 assists, and a .990 fielding percentage, and was credited with 16 defensive runs saved. He hit .246/.312/.381 with 17 home runs and a 102 wRC+ over 157 games.

The players

Cole Young

Cole Young is a second baseman for the Seattle Mariners who debuted in the Majors at age 21 in 2025.

Seattle Mariners

The Seattle Mariners are a Major League Baseball franchise based in Seattle that plays in the American League West.

The details

Managers and coaches vote within their league and cannot vote for players on their own team, while the SABR Defensive Index contributes the remaining weight. Young played in all but two Mariners games in 2026 after a winter focused on physical conditioning, which helped drive his improvement across the field.

May 31, 2025: Young debuted in the Majors at age 21.
Winter 2025-26: Young focused on physical conditioning during the offseason.
November 1, 2026: Young was named the American League Gold Glove second baseman.

Season Trajectory

Young's award adds to Seattle's Gold Glove history, which now includes 45 honors across the franchise. It also signals that the Mariners have developed a defensively strong infield core heading into future seasons.

Young's defensive profile at second base makes him a strong option for fantasy leagues that reward fielding and runs saved. The award may also influence how Seattle approaches roster and contract planning around its infield.

The takeaway

Young's season shows how an offseason focus on conditioning can translate into measurable defensive gains. Readers following Seattle baseball can track how that foundation shapes the team's infield in the years ahead.