What Mariners GM said about Colt Emerson’s callup

Colt Emerson was slated to spend Sunday afternoon playing in front of a few thousand fans at Cheney Stadium in Triple-A Tacoma.

Instead, the Seattle Mariners’ top prospect ended up making his MLB debut in front of a nationally televised audience on NBC’s “Sunday Night Baseball.”

Mariners call up top prospect Colt Emerson to make MLB debut

After a whirlwind afternoon that included a quick drive up Interstate 5 to T-Mobile Park, the 20-year-old Emerson started at third base and batted ninth in the Mariners’ series finale against the San Diego Padres. In doing so, he become the youngest Mariners player to make his MLB debut since franchise legend Félix Hernández at age 19 in 2005.

Emerson’s promotion on Sunday coincided with third baseman Brendan Donovan being placed on the 10-day injured list with a left groin strain – his second trip to the IL for the same injury in less than a month.

“This wasn’t on my bingo card this morning,” Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said. “I didn’t know that BD was going to be on the IL, … but we want to do the right thing for Colt, and we also want to do the right thing for the Mariners. We think he’s the best option.”

Emerson, a consensus top-10 overall prospect in baseball, was widely expected to make his MLB debut at some point this season. It was seemingly only a matter of when, not if.

Given what Emerson showed in Tacoma, along with the need for an everyday third baseman in the wake of Donovan’s health issues, the Mariners clearly felt the time was now.

“This period will give (Emerson) some runway,” Hollander said. “This is not a 15-at-bat or a 20-at-bat tryout to see if he’s capable of taking the job and running with it for the rest of the year.

“I have zero concerns that he’s emotionally ready to handle it, that he’s mature enough to handle the day-to-day of the major league life. He certainly has the tools and skills to go compete at this level.

“You never really know with a young player until they get out there and show us what they can do, but we do have all the confidence in the world that he can go take the job and run with it.”

Emerson, a first-round draft pick by the Mariners in 2023, has rocketed through Seattle’s system.

In his first full pro season last year, Emerson batted .285 with 16 home runs and an .842 OPS in 130 games between High-A Everett, Double-A Arkansas and Triple-A Tacoma.

In March, Emerson signed a reported eight-year, $95 million contract extension with the Mariners. At the time, it was the largest-ever deal for a player who had yet to reach the majors.

Emerson followed that with a strong showing in Tacoma, where he slashed .255/.347/.469 with seven home runs, one triple, eight doubles and an .816 OPS in 38 games this season. He struggled a bit after missing four games in April with a wrist injury, but rebounded to hit .333 with three homers and a double over his final 10 games.

“His wrist was really bothering him,” Hollander said. “What we’ve seen since he’s come back from the cortisone shot has been really exciting. Bat speed is way up, sort of back to and above his norms. He’s hitting the ball hard. He looks loose. He looks comfortable. He looks confident up there. He’s starting to put together quality at-bat after quality at-bat.

“There’s no reason that can’t translate over to what happens on this field out here.”

Along the way, Emerson has continued to show maturity beyond his years. According to Hollander, that was evident again when Emerson got the news he was being called up.

“Colt (was like), great, I’ll be right there,” Hollander said. “Like, he was very matter of fact. There was no jumping up and down, no celebrating. It was like, I’m going to go pack my bag, I’ll head right up. He’s just wired that way.”

Ultimately, Emerson has been billed as the Mariners’ shortstop of the future. But with that position manned by veteran J.P. Crawford – Seattle’s longest-tenured player – Emerson’s more immediate home figures to be third base.

And that likely would have been the case even if Donovan was healthy.

Donovan, a Gold Glove utility player in 2022, has plenty of positional flexibility, having played every position except catcher and center field during his five-year career in the majors. So, if Emerson takes hold of the third base position for the long haul this season, Donovan could move into more of a utility/designated hitter role.

Hollander said he doesn’t have a timeline for Donovan’s return, but hopes he can resume baseball activities in two to three weeks.

Donovan’s initial IL stint for his left groin strain was from April 18 to May 7. He also missed games earlier this season due to a right groin issue and a hip problem. He then reaggravated the left groin strain earlier this week during Seattle’s series against the Houston Astros.

Hollander said the injuries are likely all related to Donovan undergoing sports hernia surgery this past offseason.

“Between the off-season surgery and the groin strain, it’s definitely related,” Hollander said. “I’ve talked to the (club’s high performance) staff. They feel strongly that when you have the core surgery, you’re more susceptible to groin strains and core muscle strains after that for a little bit.”

Donovan will receive a platelet-rich plasma injection for his groin strain, as well as a different injection in his adductor, according to Hollander.

“I think the most important thing we can do is make sure that we’re putting him in position to go out there and feel good every day,” Hollander said. “Clearly, we need to take a step back based on how he felt yesterday after the Houston series and how he feels this morning.

“We did some scans this morning and he’s inflamed, it’s irritated and it’s back to where it was when he went on the IL the first time. So we need to get it right.”

Yet while it’s another setback for Donovan, the runway is now officially open for Emerson.

“He doesn’t have to come in here and do anything different than he’s always ever done,” Hollander said. “As (we) told him this afternoon, go have fun, go be yourself, go have fun, and the rest will take care of itself.”

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