Three Player Comps for Mariners 22nd Pick, SS Colt Emerson

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Heading into the 2023 MLB Draft, the Mariners were arguably in a position that no team had been in before. They were going to have three of the top 30 picks in the draft, holding a golden opportunity to replenish and buildup their farm system. It's not that it's a bad system, because it isn't. Instead, it's a system that has seen a fair amount of graduation and players traded away, and still likely sat in the late teens when ranking systems. Colt Emerson is the first step in getting back to single digits.

The Mariners took the SS out of Ohio at 22, getting another teenager into their system, and a young one at that. An advanced hitter already, Emerson is just 17 years old. Also, I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks it's funny that they drafted a player with the last name Emerson after taking a player with the first name of Emerson just a few years ago (Emerson Hancock).

I think there are a lot of happy Mariners fans after the completion of day one of the MLB Draft. Not just because of the intense booing for Manfred and the Astros that happened (oh man, was it glorious seeing him get flustered and give the fans a look during that pick), but because of the players that the Mariners ended up getting with their three picks.

Instead of giving you the straight up scouting report on the guy, let's go a different route. Here are some player comps for Emerson. Three of them, in fact. Let's take a look at the floor, the median, and the ceiling for the Mariners 22nd pick, Colt Emerson.

The Floor: A journeyman bench MI

Yeah, yeah. I'm starting off with an idea instead of a person, but I think this is a more important description of it. Pick whatever guy comes to mind for you, but this could likely be his floor. Sure, anyone could flame out and never make it, but that's a boring floor.

With his hit tool and athletic makeup, I think he's going to find his way into the bigs no matter what. Unfortunately, that might be as someone who sits on the back end of a bench, never able to figure it out enough, but always showing just enough to be your BN infielder, getting 150-200 ABs a season, hitting .240, but the power and speed just don't translate and emerge as he matures.

Still, the bat plays enough, and he has a decent little career that lasts 10-12 years or so, bouncing around the bigs on short deals. Not quite like Chris Taylor or Brad Miller, but I think you get the idea. He shows out for a bit, gets a decent little deal, but then flames out a bit and goes back to being a bench guy that holds the description of "yeah, but we know he can do it, he just NEEDS to".

I don't like talking floors, cause it makes it sound like you are saying someone will fail. While we are still learning more about Emerson, he seems like a great pick for the Mariners at 22. Let's get to the more fun comps, and see some more productive/exciting comps.

The Median or The Guess: Mariners SS Cole Young

Is this a lazy comp? No, I don't think so. I know it's the one that you likely heard during the draft or have seen online, but it's a good one to look at. Cole Young has a really solid hit tool, very advanced for his age. So much so, in fact, that it's led to him advancing up the prospect ranks already and slotting into the top 100. Not just sneaking in, either. You can find him in the 50s, with many putting him in the top 3 of the Mariners system already.

Young and Emerson both have plus hit tools, throw righty and hit lefty, both holding sweet swings that stood out amongst that years crop of hitters. Pop in the mid-teens is possible here, with the versatility to play anywhere in the infield outside of first base.

What you likely end up getting is someone who can play everyday, and ends up being a well liked player by fans, although they don't so anything special. We aren't comping a Dansby Swanson or Francisco Lindor here, as a player with these skills wouldn't be one to build your lineup around. You are getting a solid player though, with good defense, a strong bat, and enough pop to be fun. They're going to push a combo of HR/SB to 25, hit around .260, and play decent enough defense to end up as your 5th best player on a good team.

The Ceiling: Dansby Swanson

I know Swanson doesn't hit lefty, but that's why it's a comp and not a replica pick. What I'm going with here is a guy who slots into your team as one of the top three players, and one that you can arguably build your team around. Swanson isn't a championship builder, but he is a guy you want on your team to help you on that path.

An average between 255-275, the potential to push into the 20s on homers while getting into the teens on steals, all the while playing above average defense, if not great defense at short? Yeah, that's something that every single team would want at shortstop. Batting average isn't what it used to be, so someone who hits .265 seems like a .295 hitter from 20 years ago.

I think this is what we could get from Emerson. that quick swing leads to a lot of balls struck hard without a ton of miss. He's only 17, so he's going to be tested a lot over the next few years as he sees better stuff as he progresses. That's commonplace though. The potential power is there, and with the ability to pull the ball with power, 25 HR isn't out of the question.

Do you think there is a better comp here for Emerson? Let us know, and I can't wait to see this kid get into the Mariners system over the next few years. Congratulations to Colt Emerson!

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