Mariners are getting perfect storm for Colt Emerson to make Opening Day roster

Although his spring didn't get off to the best start, things have really turned around for Colt Emerson in the past week or so. He's managed to lift his spring training OPS to .814 and hit his first two home runs on March 13th and March 18th.

For some, there are still enough issues to iron out to preclude him from cracking the big leagues to start the season, but recent injury updates to starting shortstop J.P. Crawford might be enough to tip the scales in his favor.

J.P. Crawford's persistent shoulder issues may clear the perfect path for Emerson to be called up

Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reported earlier this week that Crawford had left camp to get additional medical consultation on a shoulder issue that has limited him to just 16 spring training at-bats. Even if the injury doesn't end up being much cause for concern, he'll still need some time to get back into his groove and with Opening Day a week away, having him on the roster seems like a more distant possibility with each day.

At a high level, Seattle has no shortage of middle infield understudies. Leo Rivas could be the first option for the team in the event of a brief IL stint or rehab assignment, but based on the way that he has been playing, Emerson is still in the mix. His bat has come alive over the past week and it seems like he has already made important adjustments to his approach. Here are some of his key Statcast percentiles looked before and after March 8th.

Emerson has always had an elite hit tool in the eyes of scouts, but it's his improved ability to pull the ball in the air that has allowed him to generate more power than one might expect. At just 6-foot and 195 pounds, he doesn't cut the most imposing figure, but this aspect of his swing, if consistent, would allow him to overperform relative to his bat speed and average exit velocities.

While his offensive approach continues to improve, his fielding abilities have remained solid. There were some questions about his long-term viability at the position prior to last season, but his performance quickly put those concerns to rest. His athleticism and mobility currently have him projected to be a plus-glove at an already challenging position.

The front office may have tried to downplay the issue a few weeks ago, but it's clear that J.P. Crawford's injury situation must be addressed by the organization soon. Emerson is still far from a finished product, but his prospect pedigree was enough for people to pose the question of being called up before spring training even began. Now that he has turned things around following a rocky start, it may be time to prove himself at the next level, even if only for a brief period.