Top Mariners Prospect Colt Emerson Talks Blistering Start in Arizona Fall League

Shortstop Colt Emerson is one of the rare teenagers playing in the prestigious Arizona Fall League, but he certainly doesn’t look out of place.

The Mariners’ No. 1 prospect is batting .410 with eight doubles, 10 RBIs, five stolen bases and an OPS of 1.030 in 39 at-bats.

Emerson, Seattle’s first-round pick in 2023, recently spoke with SportsCasting about getting invited to the elite proving ground in Arizona and continuing the torrid start to his professional career.

Q: So what was your reaction when they wanted you to come to the Fall League?

Colt Emerson: “I was extremely grateful. I had a broken foot and I got the chance to be in this league and get 30 more games in. So I was ecstatic and grateful for the opportunity.”

Q: Do you think it’s a belief thing that they wanted you out here against top competition, or is it or more of a rehab type thing? How did you take it when they sent you here?

CE: “How I took it was, they wanted me to come out and compete, have fun playing the game and get better at baseball. Most of these guys are Double-A, Triple-A guys, so facing some great competition is going to make you a great hitter.”

Q: You are hitting the ball well and finding success. What does that mean to you?

CE: “It’s everything I worked toward. I’m not working toward getting an out every time, I’m working toward getting a hit every time, you know? It shows the work I’ve put in is paying off.”

Q: You mentioned the older prospects who have been at higher levels. Did you wonder what the adjustment would be like early on? What were you thinking coming in, and what has it been like?

CE: “It’s easier said than done, but in my mind it’s just baseball. You have to treat it like that. If I’m like, ‘Oh, these guys are a level above me or two levels above me,’ then you are screwed from there. It’s a mental game. In my mind, I’m better than the pitcher every time I go out there.”

Q: When you fractured your foot, how was it sitting and watching? Was it your first major injury?

CE: “Yeah. I stayed as present as possible in rehab and took it one day at a time. I had to really take advantage of the time I did have off, because at the end of the day, it sucks that I wasn’t playing, but ultimately, was I going to take advantage of these two months of rehab or sulk about breaking my foot? I took full advantage of it. Got better at baseball, got stronger, got more mobile.”

Q: You sound very mature. Do you think that mindframe will help you moving forward? I’m sure you’ve got big goals of making the Major Leagues.

CE: “For sure. I’ve realized that you only get a certain amount of opportunities in your life, and you’ve really got to take advantage of them.”

Q: You’re playing on the same team as Leodalis De Vries and Ethan Salas. Leo is 17, Ethan 18, you’re 19, and you all have similar aspirations as young guys. Have you bonded a bit?

CE: “Yeah, everybody on the team is really great. We may be young, but on a baseball team everyone is the same age. You’re competing for one goal, and that is to win. Having that in mind, we all have the same goal, so we blend pretty well together.”

Q: Has there been anything tougher or unexpected since you’ve been out here against the higher level of competition?

CE: “Um, not really. It’s baseball. Like I said, it’s easier said than done, but at the end of the day it is just baseball.”

Q: You haven’t hit much of a roadblock yet. Is that exciting for your future?

CE: “I try to keep it one day at a time, but, yeah, I am excited for the future. Until then, I’ve gotta grind away.”