Cole Youngblood
Cole Young (SEA): 3-4, 2 2B, 3 RBI, BB.
Cole Young has been heating up over the last 5 Seconds of Summer. Over his last 21 games since the start of the second half, Young has been hitting .259/.412/.389/.801, with a homer, a steal, and a 140 wRC+. The numbers may not be gaudy, but it’s possible we’re catching him at the start of a run. He’s brought his walk rate up to 20.3% and his strikeout rate down to 10.1% which is backed up by a 119 DV+ (102 zDV/117 oDV).
As long as Young is playing every day at second base in an elite Seattle Mariners offense, the 22-year-old Youngblood is capable of being a valuable contributor down the stretch.
Let’s see how the other hitters did Friday:
Christian Yelich (MIL): 4-5, 2B, 2 HR, 3 R, 5 RBI.
Christian Yelich picked up his 24th and 25th home runs of the season yesterday, the latter of which gave the Milwaukee Brewers the lead in the sixth inning. The counting stats have cooled off ever so slightly in the second half, with six home runs and only one stolen base. Overall, Yeli has actually picked up the pace of late, though, with a .319/.385/.543/.927 slashline.
Francisco Lindor (NYM): 3-5, 2 HR, 2 R, 4 RBI.
The New York Mets just weren’t able to get past the Mariners last night, but nobody in Queens can blame Francisco Lindor for the loss. All three of Lindor’s hits were barrels, with his first of the night tying the game in the bottom of the first inning. Later on, the Mets’ superstar gave them not one, but two leads that Sean Manaea coughed up. Ouch.
Cal Raleigh (SEA): 3-5, 2 2B, HR, 3 R, 2 RBI, BB.
I’ll let you in on a secret: Cal Raleigh is good at baseball. Shhhh, don’t tell anyone else. Raleigh picked up his league-leading 46th home run and 100th RBI last night. The 28-year-old Mariner could break Salvador Perez’s record for home runs by a catcher (48) as soon as this weekend. Raleigh has been racking up the records in 2025, and we still have six weeks left in the regular season. Don’t change that dial!
Alejandro Kirk (TOR): 2-4, HR, R, 4 RBI, SB.
Speaking of milestones, Alejandro Kirk recorded his first career stolen base in the major leagues last night. It’s somewhat improbable that Kirk will lead the league in stolen bases the rest of the season; however, the “Combo Meal” is the perfect excuse to acknowledge the year that the Toronto Blue Jays catcher has had in 2025. The 26-year-old is putting up some of his best numbers since 2021, with a 91.2 mph average exit velocity, 8.7% Barrel rate, and 50.8% HardHit rate.
One of the frustrating parts about two-catcher leagues is when the well dries up and you’re left with nothing but a big pile of strikeouts driving down your ratios. Kirk is the perfect answer for managers with this problem, as he’s brought his strikeout rate to a career low 9.9%. Why play with an empty slot at catcher if Kirk is still available to help pad your stats?
Willy Adames (SFG): 1-3, HR, 2 R, RBI, BB, SB.
2025 has been quite the rollercoaster for Willy Adames. Last night’s “Combo Meal” briefly put the San Francisco Giants on top with a 101.6 mph home run in the third inning. The 29-year-old shortstop almost but the Giants back on top in the seventh inning with a deep, 101.8 mph flyball to left field that didn’t quite clear the fences. Going back to the start of July, Adames has picked up 10 homers, 26 runs, 26 RBI, a .254/.338/.528 triple slash, and a 142 wRC+ in 37 games.
The end of the summer is just around the corner. Don’t spend the offseason wishing you had gone to the theme park while you had the chance!
Colby Thomas (ATH): 3-3, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI.
The Nomad Athletics farm system has been red hot this season, as Nick Kurtz and Jacob Wilson were deadlocked in the AL Rookie of the Year Race until Wilson went on the IL with a fractured hand. Colby Thomas is shaping up to be the A’s latest success story, commanding some attention of his own with a 107.5 mph moonshot last night that would’ve gone out of all 30 ballparks.
Thomas’ plate discipline still needs some refinement before he reaches the same heights of superstardom as his teammates. However, the A’s will continue to play in Sutter Health Park through the 2027 season, and his profile is an excellent fit for the A’s current home.
Hunter Goodman (COL): 1-3, HR, R, RBI, BB.
The Colorado Rockies started last night off in style as Hunter Goodman drilled a 108.6 mph home run off the first pitch of the night for his 25th of the season. Goodman is the prototypical Coors Field bat, a swing-happy, power-hitter, and yet his 2025 breakout has largely been fueled by his performance on the road. In fact, 15 of his homers have been outside of Coors Field, alongside hitting for a .271/.315/.562/.876 slashline with a 140 wRC+.
Goodman’s ability to hit for both average and power, at home or on the road, coupled with C/OF eligibility, might make him the most desirable of the Rockies bats for anyone looking to capture some of their mile-high magic.
Coby Mayo (BAL): 1-4, HR, R, RBI.
After hitting 22 home runs, a .287/.364/.562/.926 line, and 139 wRC+ in Triple-A last year, Coby Mayo has struggled to adjust to the majors since his call-up. He May-o have finally found his groove with the Baltimore Orioles since the All-Star break, as he’s picked up four home runs with a .222/.329/.460/.789 line and 121 wRC+, including his fifth of the season last night.
Mayo still needs to improve against right-handed pitching, as a career 34 wRC+ against big league righties won’t propel him to superstardom. The ceiling is definitely there, though.
Ramón Laureano (SDP): 1-3, HR, R, RBI.
For the third consecutive season, Ramon Laureano was traded at the deadline, this year to the San Diego Padres. Laureano’s experience jetsetting across the league seems to have paid off for the Padres, as he’s improved on an already strong 2025 campaign to make an impressive debut with his new team. In 13 games since switching uniforms, the 30-year-old outfielder has gone 16-for-49 with three home runs, one stolen base, and a 184 wRC+. Laureano has been starting every day in left field while hitting in the middle of the Padres’ lineup. Given the Orioles’ logjam in the outfield and at DH, this is one of those rare moments where a player is traded to a playoff team and gains playing time in their new offense.
Laureano has become a must-roster rest of season, and if a rebuilding club has dropped him, take full advantage.
