Cole Young
(Wexford, PA – Jan. 3, 2023) – North Allegheny graduate, Cole Young was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the first round (21st Overall) of the Major League Baseball Draft in 2022. Young is the first North Allegheny baseball player ever selected in the first round of the MLB Draft. He was the seventh WPIAL player taken in the first round out of high school since the draft started in 1965. Prior to being drafted, Cole had accepted a full scholarship to play at Duke University.
Young was the first freshman ever selected to the Post-Gazette’s All-Area team. He made the squad every season of his career, and he was the Player of the Year in his junior and senior years for both the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Trib Live High School Sports Network. In his senior year, Cole had a .433 average with 8 doubles, 4 triples, 2 home runs and a 1.364 OPS. He hit over .400 every year of his high school career.
In the field, Cole was also impressive. In his 73 games for NA, Cole finished with a .951 fielding percentage with only 12 errors in 105 chances
After being drafted Cole played on Seattle’s minor league Class A affiliate, the Modesto Nuts, batting .367, with a .423 OBP and hitting two home runs.