Seattle Mariners prospect Colt Emerson all eyes in scrimmage

One intrasquad scrimmage is in the books for the AL West champion Seattle Mariners, and the work that needed to be put in Wednesday was put in.

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At-bats were taken, batters faced and situations set, including an opening of the roof at T-Mobile Park to allow the Mariners to play in what could be similar light on Saturday if they are assigned the early game.

For the veterans, it was another day of work. For one member of the taxi squad, it was a day to remember.

“Oh my gosh,” said 20 year old Colt Emerson, the Mariners’ top prospect who started his second full season of professional baseball this year at High-A Everett. “Walking out on the field, fielding ground balls and feeling a part of the team for the first time, it was amazing. I couldn’t stop smiling.”

It wasn’t the first time Emerson, who is the No. 11-ranked overall prospect per MLB.com, has been around the big league club as he was an invitee to major league camp this spring. The situation six months later is different, however. Six months ago, he knew his time in camp would end being sent down to A ball. This time, his movement was in the opposite direction.

While the call to help the Mariners as a member of the taxi squad – a group that will be kept ready mostly in Arizona to fill in if needed during the playoff run – was a surprise, it was one he felt ready for.

“I got to develop some relationships with them earlier in the season, and to follow them and see the success they have had has been really great,” Emerson said. “I’m very proud of them, proud to be a Mariner and it’s just really exciting. The energy and being around these guys has been really great.”

Emerson’s rise through the minors this season has been eye-opening even for a top prospect. Starting the season in Everett, he was promoted to Double-A Arkansas on Aug. 5. When he thought his year had come to an end with the Travelers finishing their season, he got the call to Tacoma for the Triple-A Rainiers’ playoff push, homering in his first game.

Having played in just 70 games in 2024, his final game for the Rainiers was his 130th this year – with the slightest chance of not being his final game of the 2025 season. Whether it is or not, he values the experience.

“It’s just kind of like super cool,” he said. “I am just grateful for every opportunity and not taking for granted any opportunity I get. You never know what can happen. Now, at this point it is what can I do to help the team and just be ready. Maybe there’s a shot, maybe not. Hopefully not and nobody gets hurt, but I’m just here and grateful for the opportunity.”

Emerson was all eyes Wednesday at T-Mobile Park.

“Just to see the way these guys go about their business and the looseness, even though it’s the playoffs, it’s just super cool,” he said. “It’s going to help me in future years to see how guys who have had this success go about their business.”

He also had the opportunity to live out a dream, sharing the field with 2025 Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Ichiro, who played right field in the scrimmage. Calling him a legend, Emerson wisely passed on the temptation to prompt a look at his storied arm.

“It’s just living out my dream and it’s really cool. Just seeing Ichiro and seeing him in right, I was at second and there’s one out and I turned around to Cole (Young) and said I should have tagged up. I should have tested his arm,” Emerson said with a laugh.

Seattle Mariners prospect Colt Emerson all eyes in scrimmage

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