Mariners' No. 1 prospect is busy sharpening his bluntest tool in the minors

At just 19 years old, Colt Emerson is already one of the most polished hitters in the Seattle Mariners’ farm system. As the consensus top prospect in the system, he's currently in High-A Everett, where his bat-to-ball skills and plate discipline continue to stand out.

His 65-grade hit tool by MLB Pipeline is no exaggeratio. He consistently puts together mature at-bats, works counts, and rarely looks overmatched despite facing older, more experienced arms. But one area of his game that’s still rounding into form is his power.

Colt Emerson's power looks to be developing which could send him skyrocketing up top prospect ranks

Through 54 games this season, Emerson has hit just five home runs, which might concern some about his ability to impact the ball with authority. His 50-grade power tool, as projected by most outlets, was never about tape-measure blasts. It was expected to show up more in gap-to-gap doubles than towering home runs like the ones of fellow AquaSox star Lazaro Montes.

And to be fair, that projection still holds water. Emerson has flashed plenty of pop with some impressive exit velocities, yet his fifth home run on June 10th was his first in 17 games. Still, for a top prospect to go nearly three weeks without a homer does raise an eyebrow — especially when fans are eager to see the next wave of homegrown stars develop into complete threats at the plate.

But it’s important to look at this from a wider lenses. Emerson is still in his age-19 season, facing pitchers who are often three or four years older than him. Plus, the five homers he's hit this year are already more than the four he hit in 70 games in the minors in 2024.

The foundation is clearly there: his swing is compact and repeatable, his approach is advanced, and he already understands how to do damage on pitches in his zone. Adding more loft, physical maturity, and approach adjustments will naturally unlock more power over time.

The Mariners player development staff is undoubtedly focused on sharpening that part of his game. Once he learns to better leverage his lower half and turn on pitches with intent, there’s a strong chance he starts clearing fences with more regularity. If Emerson can tap into even average game power to go along with his elite hit tool, we’re talking about a potential perennial All-Star and someone that could be one of the top prospects in the game very soon.