Cole Young Is Hitting Everything in Sight — Add Him Now

Cole Young is slashing at a .462 average over the last seven days with a .505 wOBA, and the underlying data says this isn't a mirage. The 22-year-old second baseman for Seattle has been on WaiverScout's radar since March, and after months of flickering signals, the breakout is here. At just 19% rostered, you still have a window — but it's closing fast, with ownership surging +6% in the past week alone.

The Rolling Numbers Tell the Story

Look at the trajectory across windows and the trend is unmistakable:

  • 7-day: .462 AVG | .505 wOBA | 10.7% K% | 92.3 mph EV | 40% HardHit%
  • 14-day: .353 AVG | .385 wOBA | 9.3% K% | 92.3 mph EV | 40% HardHit%
  • 30-day: .289 AVG | .362 wOBA | 11.5% K% | 90.1 mph EV | 32.8% HardHit%

Every meaningful metric is trending in the right direction. His wOBA has jumped from .362 over 30 days to .505 over the last seven. His strikeout rate has dropped from 11.5% to 10.7% — and it was already elite for a young hitter. Perhaps most importantly, his exit velocity has climbed from 90.1 mph to 92.3 mph, with his hard-hit rate spiking from 32.8% to 40%. That's not a guy getting lucky on bloopers. He's barreling the baseball.

The Last Five Games Are Absurd

Young has hits in all five of his last games, going 11-for-22 (.500) with a homer, 3 RBI, and just 3 strikeouts over 28 plate appearances. His most recent outing — a 4-for-5 night on August 2nd — was his best yet. He's making consistent, quality contact, not chasing, and the Mariners are clearly committed to him with steady everyday at-bats.

WaiverScout Saw This Coming

We first flagged Young as an Add Now back on March 22nd when he was rostered in just 6.2% of leagues. The signal cooled through the spring, and we moved him to Watch status multiple times — on April 22nd, June 12th, and again on July 18th and July 29th. The underlying tools were always there; he just needed consistent playing time and some mechanical refinement. Now both have arrived. The algorithm has upgraded him back to Add Now for the first time since opening week, and the data backing this call is significantly stronger than it was in March.

The Broader Fantasy Landscape

Young was generating buzz as far back as spring training, with Mariners community analysts making the case that he'd exceed expectations in 2026. NFBC has been tracking his go-ahead homers in high-stakes leagues. The industry is starting to notice, but at 19% rostered, most managers are still sleeping. If you're looking at second base options like Gleyber Torres, Brandon Lowe, or Brice Turang, Young's combination of contact quality, plate discipline, and rising batted-ball data makes him a compelling alternative — or upgrade.

The Verdict: Add Now

The data is clear. Cole Young is producing at a premium level over a solid 54 PA sample across the last two weeks, his exit velocity and hard-hit metrics validate the results, his strikeout rate remains elite, and he's locked into consistent playing time in Seattle's lineup. At 19% rostered, this is the kind of add you look back on in September and either congratulate yourself for making — or kick yourself for missing. Don't miss it. Add Cole Young now.