Seattle Mariners call up top prospect Colt Emerson
PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 11: Colt Emerson #85 of the Seattle Mariners at bat during a Spring Training game against the Colorado Rockies at Peoria Stadium on March 11, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Brandon Sloter / Getty Images)
SEATTLE - The Seattle Mariners have promoted top prospect Colt Emerson to the majors and he'll make his debut Sunday afternoon against the San Diego Padres.
Emerson is in the lineup at third base and will bat ninth and wear No. 4.
"We want to do the right thing for Colt. We also want to do the right thing for the Mariners. We think he's the best option," general manager Justin Hollander said.
Brendan Donovan was placed back on the 10-day injured list due to a left groin strain to open a roster spot for Emerson's promotion.
Emerson, 20, was pulled from the lineup for the Tacoma Rainiers ahead of their 1:35 p.m. game against the Sugar Land Space Cowboys and told to head to T-Mobile Park instead.
Emerson has appeared in 38 games with Triple-A Tacoma this season, batting .255 with seven home runs, eight doubles, and a triple with 26 RBI, 17 walks and 46 strikeouts. Throughout his minor league career, Emerson has played in 262 career games, posting a .282 average with 29 home runs, 63 doubles and eight triples with 154 RBI, 155 walks and 229 strikeouts.
"This period will give him some runway," Hollander said of Emerson. "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. And if that's how it works, that would be great. We'd be thrilled for him and thrilled for us."
The move comes after Donovan was scratched from the lineup prior to Saturday's 7-4 loss to the Padres. Donovan has been dealing with a groin issue that is a complication from offseason sports hernia surgery.
Hollander said Donovan re-aggravated the injury at the end of the series in Houston. The timeline is expected to be around 2-3 weeks.
"Between the offseason surgery and the groin strain – it's definitely related," Hollander said. "… He will get a PRP (platlet-rich plasma) injection in the groin strain as well as a different injection in the adductor (muscle) to try and keep both things working together and get them both right."
At 20 years and 301 days old, Emerson will be the youngest player to make their debut with Seattle since Félix Hernández on Aug. 4, 2005 (19 years, 118 days). He will also be the 2nd youngest player to make their MLB debut this season, behind Konnor Griffin of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
While Emerson is likely the shortstop of the future for the Mariners, he has also played games at third base and second base. He's the No. 6 prospect in all of MLB via MLB Pipeline, and No. 3 prospect per Baseball America.
"I think there was a slow start at Triple-A, which is normal for someone who is so young to be at that level," Hollander said. "He was also hurt. His wrist was really bothering him. 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."
The Mariners signed Emerson to an eight-year extension worth a reported $95 million with a club option for a ninth season in late March.
It's the largest contract ever for a player with zero MLB service time, surpassing Jackson Chourio's eight-year, $83 million deal with the Milwaukee Brewers signed in 2023.
Featured
Seattle Mariners commit to top prospect Colt Emerson with eight-year extension
The Seattle Mariners made a long-term commitment to top prospect Colt Emerson before he's even played his first game in the major leagues, reaching an eight-year extension with MLB's No. 7 prospect.
The Source: Information in this story came from the Seattle Mariners and FOX 13 Seattle reporting.
MORE MARINERS NEWS FROM FOX 13 SEATTLE
Padres slug past Mariners at T-Mobile Park
Padres hit three home runs off Logan Gilbert as Seattle Mariners lose 7-4
Seattle Mariners shutout 2-0 as Randy Vásquez throws six scoreless innings for Padres
Seattle Mariners not expecting lengthy absence for Cal Raleigh due to oblique injury
Luke Raley hits 3-run home run as Mariners beat Astros 8-3
To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter.
Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.