Colt Emerson shows off glove, bat in Double-A debut

Seattle Mariners prospect Colt Emerson didn’t disappoint in his Double-A debut.

The Mariners’ top-ranked prospect flashed his leather with an impressive play at shortstop and displayed some pop on a hard-hit double in his first game with the Arkansas Travelers on Tuesday night.

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Emerson is mostly known for his potential at the plate with an advanced approach for a 20 year old and profile as a high-contact hitter with pop. However, it was Emerson’s glovework that shined first in his Texas League introduction.

The 2023 first-round pick ranged far to his right on a groundball in the hole between shortstop and third base to make a sliding grab, pop up and unleash a one-hop strike to just get the runner at first base for the final out of the top of the first inning. It was Emerson’s first play in the field at the Double-A level.

Emerson added to his day with a well-struck double in the third inning that was nearly a home run. In a lefty on lefty matchup, Emerson tagged a fly ball that bounced off the warning track and over the short fence in right-center field for a ground rule double. He finished the day 1 for 4 in a 3-0 win for the Travelers over the Frisco RoughRiders.

The Mariners promoted Emerson to Double-A alongside switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje on Monday.

Emerson, who is ranked as the No. 15 prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline and No. 14 by Baseball America, slashed .281/.388/.453 with 15 doubles, five triples, 11 home runs, 51 RBIs, 54 walks and 68 strikeouts in 90 games with High-A Everett before his promotion.

He hit his stride in High-A in early June, batting .338 with 12 doubles, two triples, seven home runs and a 1.040 OPS over his final 40 games with Everett.

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