The Seattle Mariners are calling up top prospect SS/3B Colt Emerson, per multiple reports led by Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times. The move came as somewhat of an unexpected move, as Emerson was initially listed in the Tacoma Rainiers lineup in Triple-A. Instead, Seattle is bringing up their 20 year old quite literally from the South Sound. The club is reportedly waiting until Emerson actually arrives at T-Mobile Park before formalizing a roster move, but it seems plausible that the corresponding
move could be another stint on the injured list for Brendan Donovan. Emerson is one of the most well-regarded prospects in all of baseball, with national outlets ranking him near the top of all major prospect lists to start the year (Baseball America – 7th, Baseball Prospectus – 15th, FanGraphs – 11th, MLB Pipeline – 9th). The move makes Emerson the youngest player in the American League, and the youngest Mariners player since Félix Hernández debuted as a 19 year old in August of 2005. In fact, Emerson was born just 15 days before the King’s big league debut, h/t Connor Donovan. After scorching the minors a season ago, Emerson signed a contract extension for eight years, $95 million, with club options for 2034 this spring. It seemed like the sort of move that would come in concert with an immediate call-up, but Seattle left the youngster in Tacoma to continue working. Healing from a few minor injuries, Emerson has played regularly for the Rainiers while working between shortstop and third base.
The Mariners have seemed intent to work in Emerson at third base when he debuts, where he’s looked smooth as a defender, as opposed to shifting veteran SS J.P. Crawford in the de facto captain’s final year under contract. It’s a bit of rhyme with Crawford’s own debut, as the then-22-year-old took primary work at third in deference to Freddy Galvis. Emerson’s defensive capabilities should be a boon for Seattle in either location, so it’s most pertinent to see how the 2023 first round pick handles himself at the plate. He’d run a respectable .255/.347/.469 line in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, but striking out at an elevated 27.2% clip had suggested he might receive a bit more seasoning before the call.
Instead, he is here. We are expecting a roster move at 2:10 to be announced and will update this article once it is public.
