Mariners' 2023 1st-round pick is building a case as MLB's No. 1 prospect

It's not easy being drafted out of high school, especially when you're taken with the 22nd overall pick and given a $3.8 million signing bonus. However, despite the immense pressure of being a first-rounder, it doesn't seem like it has limited Colt Emerson's abilities on the field.

He dominated in Single-A last year and quickly began climbing to the higher ranks of the minors this season, even getting 27 plate appearances with Triple-A Tacoma. With all that he's accomplished this year, it seems appropriate to have a conversation about what his ceiling as a prospect is, if there is one at all.

Colt Emerson is skyrocketing toward the top of prospect lists

We know that he can hit. Across the three highest levels of the minor leagues, Emerson averaged a 130 wRC+ with 16 home runs and a .383 on-base percentage. He doesn't have the same natural pop as some other prospects — like his fellow farmhand Lazaro Montes — but that allows him to prioritize discipline and making great swing decisions. Still, he can come through with a big swing if he needs to.

In addition to his well-rounded offensive approach, Emerson has become well-known for playing stellar defense. The minor leagues lack the same depth of defensive metrics that major league fans have become accustomed to, but his work at shortstop has still managed to catch the eye of faithful minor league viewers.

His work on both side of the ball has already earned him the title of top prospect in the Northwest League. MVP honors were granted to his teammate, the aforementioned Montes, but Emerson's numbers weren't too far behind. It also bumped him up into the top 10 of some top prospect lists, including one from ESPN.

Emerson has a bright future ahead of him. Already ranked as the 11th-best prospect in the league by MLB Pipeline, he should easily break into the top 10 from his performance this year as well as the eventual graduation of Samuel Basallo (No. 8-ranked prospect) and Bubba Chandler (No. 7). Other highly-touted names like Kevin McGonigle (No. 2) and Sebastian Walcott (No. 4) may have done enough to be promoted in 2026, setting the stage for Emerson to seize the coveted title of being the No. 1 overall prospect in baseball.

Of course, there's a good chance Colt himself gets called up. He has an ETA of 2026 and with an ability to play both positions on the left side of the infield, he could get some reps at the hot corner since J.P. Crawford likely isn't going anywhere until his contract expires after next season.

If not next year, Emerson will absolutely be in the running to be Seattle's new starting shortstop if Crawford ends up signing elsewhere as a free agent. If so, the Mariners could end up with years of an outstanding shortstop talent that's capable of getting the job done with his bat and his glove.

The offseason will show whether other talent evaluators see it the same, but regardless of what rank he earns on MLB's Top 100 or other lists, the consensus is that he's a special player with nearly unlimited potential.