Given the scale of the Mariners\u2019 investment in Emerson, continuing a trend that\u2019s become ever the more prevalent in recent years, it\u2019s worth evaluating the eight other players who landed contracts before ever appearing in a major league game\u2014and whether those early investments have paid off.<\/p>\n
Jon Singleton, Astros (2014)<\/p>\n
Originally an eighth-round pick of the Phillies, Singleton was traded to the Astros in 2011 as part of a four-player package for Hunter Pence. Within a few years, the hulking first baseman was one of the Astros\u2019 top prospects when the franchise opted to sign him to a five-year, $10 million extension in June 2014. The deal was worth up to $35 million. It didn\u2019t turn out well. <\/p>\n
In 114 games from 2014 through \u201815, he slashed .171\/.290\/.331, with 14 home runs, 50 RBIs, a wRC+ of 81 and -0.9 fWAR. That plus Singleton\u2019s whopping 36.0% strikeout rate didn\u2019t give Houston much reason to work out his issues during the Astros\u2019 championship window that coincided with his struggles. <\/p>\n
After playing in 19 games during the 2015 campaign, he didn\u2019t see the majors again until returning to the bigs in 2023 with the Brewers. He was soon released after 11 uninspiring games with Milwaukee, and found his way back to the Astros. He enjoyed a fleeting revival with them in \u201924, but shortly ran out of chances to revive his MLB career and is now a member of the Diablos Rojos del M\u00e9xico in the Mexican League. <\/p>\n
Scott Kingery, Phillies (2018)<\/p>\n
You don\u2019t remember Scott Kingery? Don\u2019t worry, you\u2019re not alone. The Phillies thought they had the next big thing when the then 23-year-old slashed .304\/.359\/.530 with 26 home runs, 65 RBIs and 29 stolen bases in 132 games at Double-A and Triple-A in 2017. After posting a 1.140 OPS in spring training, Philadelphia inked Kingery to a six-year, $24 million deal and put him on the Opening Day roster. Things didn\u2019t end well for the 5\u20199\u201d infielder. <\/p>\n
As a rookie in 2018, Kingery hit .226 with a .267 on-base percentage while slugging .330. His 61 wRC+ was woeful, as was his -0.7 fWAR. He bounced back in \u201919, slashing .258\/.315\/.474, with 19 home runs, 55 RBIs, a wRC+ 100, and a 2.1 fWAR. That wound up being the high point of his career. He struggled in the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign, posting a .511 OPS and -0.9 fWAR while producing a lowly 36 wRC+ in 36 games. He only played in 16 games for the Phillies over the next two seasons. <\/p>\n
Kinger was traded to the Angels on Nov. 1, 2024, and played in 19 big league games in \u201925. He hooked on with the Cubs this offseason and made the team\u2019s Opening Day roster, but his expectations are far lower than they once were. The former top prospect has a career fWAR of -0.3. <\/p>\n
![\"Eloy](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/01kn3naxxq64nmwq12h7.jpg\" "\\"Eloy")
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The Chicago White Sox signed Eloy Jimenez before he played a single MLB inning. | Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
Eloy Jim\u00e9nez, White Sox (2019)<\/p>\n
Jim\u00e9nez was a top international free agent in 2013, and the Cubs gave him a $2.8 million signing bonus. By \u201917, he was working his way through the system when the North Siders traded him to the White Sox along with Dylan Cease, Matt Rose and Bryant Flete in exchange for Jos\u00e9 Quintana. In March of 2019, the South Siders signed him to a six-year, $43 million contract and promoted him to the big leagues to open the season.<\/p>\n
As a rookie that year, Jim\u00e9nez slashed .267\/.315\/.513 with 31 home runs, 79 RBIs, a 115 wRC+ and 1.1 fWAR over 122 games, earning him a fourth-place finish in AL Rookie of the Year voting. He initially followed up well in his sophomore campaign, winning a Silver Slugger award by hitting .296 with a .891 OPS, 14 home runs, 41 RBIs, a 138 wRC+ and 1.5 fWAR. Unfortunately, injuries proved to be a problem after that. <\/p>\n
Jim\u00e9nez ruptured his pec during spring training in 2021, dealt with a hamstring injury in \u201922 and had an appendectomy in \u201923. The White Sox traded him to the Orioles in \u201924. From \u201921 through \u201824, he posted a .745 OPS with 50 home runs, 178 RBIs, a 107 wRC+ and 1.5 fWAR. On Nov. 2, 2024, the Orioles declined the option on Jim\u00e9nez\u2019s contract, instead opting to pay a $3 million buyout. He has been in the minors since, and is currently in the Blue Jays\u2019 system.<\/p>\n
Evan White, Mariners (2019)<\/p>\n
Emerson isn\u2019t the first player the Mariners have signed without any MLB experience, and Seattle\u2019s front office either has marrow-deep certainty in him or collectively has a really short memory. The franchise selected first baseman Evan White with the 17th pick in the 2017 MLB draft, and two years later, in November \u201919, signed him to a six-year, $24 million deal that could have paid him $55.5 million. It wasn\u2019t a great idea. <\/p>\n
White won a Gold Glove as a rookie in 2020, but in 54 games slashed a woeful .176\/.252\/.346 with eight home runs, 26 RBIs and a wRC+ of 67. He produced -0.1 fWAR. In \u201921, he was even worse, slashing .144\/.202\/.237 with two home runs, a wRC+ of 24 and -0.7 fWAR in 30 games before having season-ending hip surgery. He hasn\u2019t seen the big leagues since. <\/p>\n
White dealt with sports hernia surgery in 2022, struggled with a groin strain in \u201923, and was traded to the Angels in December of that year. He stayed with L.A. for two years despite not playing at all in \u201925 and became a free agent after last season, and remains unsigned. <\/p>\n
Luis Robert Jr., White Sox (2020)<\/p>\n
In late 2016, Robert defected from Cuba at 19 years old with a world of promise in front of him. The White Sox signed him to a deal that included a $26 million signing bonus. He proceeded to crush minor league pitching and in 2019, hit .328 with a 1.000 OPS, 32 home runs, 98 RBIs and 36 stolen bases over three levels, finishing at Triple A. <\/p>\n
Chicago had seen enough, and early in January 2020, they signed him to a six-year, $50 million deal with two option years tacked on. He made his MLB debut a few months later and quickly looked like a star. <\/p>\n
Robert won a Gold Glove as a rookie during the pandemic-shortened season and finished as the runner-up for AL Rookie of the Year. Unfortunately, though, he suffered a torn hip flexor early in 2021 and played only 68 games that year, and was again limited to 98 games in \u201922. He finally had a full season in \u201923 and thrived, slashing .364\/.315\/.542 with 38 home runs, 80 RBIs, 20 stolen bases, a 129 wRC+ and 4.9 fWAR. Robert was named an All-Star and won a Silver Slugger. That was as high as he climbed. <\/p>\n
![\"Milwaukee](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/01kn3nchn2f145f0c94n.jpg\" "\\"Milwaukee")
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