Mariners select high-school SS Colt Emerson with 22nd pick of MLB Draft
Seattle selected Colt Emerson with the 22nd pick in the MLB Draft on Sunday night, a silky-smooth middle infielder from John Glenn High School in New Concord, Ohio.
Emerson, 17, possesses perhaps the most-mature bat of any high-school draftee and becomes the first Ohio high school player to be selected in the opening round since 2012.
The 6-foot-1, 197-pound Emerson struck out just 14 times in his high school career, batting 84-for-172 (.455) with 26 doubles, 13 home runs, and 51 RBI with a .587 on-base percentage in 54 career games as a left-handed hitter for the John Glenn Muskies.
“He is a pure hitter who already possesses an advanced knowledge of the strike zone,” said Scott Hunter, Seattle’s Director of Amateur Scouting. “As a member of Team USA last summer, he was an important part of the lineup that won the Gold Medal. We see Colt as an advanced hitter who will not only hit for average but power in the future. Colt’s leadership and polished approach to the game makes us extremely excited to add him to our organization.”
Emerson sports a 60-grade hit tool, described by scouts as a “steady defender” with an ability to make consistent, hard contact.
He was named the 2023 Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year, the 2023 Max Preps Ohio State Player of the Year, and the 2023 Prep Baseball Report Ohio Player of the Year for a senior season that featured a .446 batting average and 25 RBI.
Did Hunter believe Emerson would fall to the Mariners at No. 22?
“We thought it was going to be real close,” he replied. “He was a guy that I know a lot of teams (wanted).”
Another scouting director text-messaged Hunter after Seattle drafted Emerson: “You’re lucky,” the director told Hunter. “I almost cut a big a deal with him almost 10 picks higher than (22 overall).”
“I thanked him for that,” Hunter told reporters.
Touted by Hunter for his leadership skills, Emerson considers his favorite player Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu.
“Not too many kids say DJ LeMahieu these days,” Hunter said, “and it was because of his leadership and consistency. And that’s something that really stood out.”
And for a third straight season, Seattle selected a high-schooler with its first-round pick. The Mariners snagged infielder Cole Young 21st overall last season, and took now-top-prospect catcher Harry Ford 12th overall in 2022.
Seattle drafted three more players Sunday night — at No. 29, No. 30, and No. 57.
In addition to drafting Emerson at 22, the Mariners received the 29th selection as a “Prospect Promotion Incentive Pick” when All-Star slugger Julio Rodriguez won last year’s AL Rookie of the Year award and selected high-school outfielder Jonny Farmelo from Chantilly, Virginia.
Round A of competitive balance picks begins at pick 30 — also Seattle’s. The Mariners grabbed another high-schooler -- shortstop Tai Pette (Sharpsburg, Georgia) -- just minutes after selecting Farmelo.
Seattle ended day one by selecting its first college player in 2023 -- William & Mary third baseman Ben Williamson.
Pittsburgh selected LSU right-hander Paul Skenes first overall.
Predictably, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred was booed from his opening entrance. What turned jeers into cheers was Mariners legend Ken Griffey Jr. — the first overall selection of the 1987 draft — who emerged to join Manfred at the podium.
‘The Kid’ announced Skenes’ selection. And Griffey’s draft moment 36 years ago came full-circle.
When the Nationals selected LSU outfielder Dylan Crews second overall, he and Skenes became the first college teammates to chosen with the first two picks in MLB Draft history.
“They seemed pretty happy to be Mariners,” Hunter said. “And they all know each other, and they’re all excited to come out here (to Seattle) together. I think we’ll have a nice hitting group, the three of them and Julio (Rodriguez) and (Jarred) Kelenic. Bring them all out, and hopefully sign them like a college signing day on the field together.”
This story was originally published July 9, 2023 at 6:24 PM with the headline "Mariners select high-school SS Colt Emerson with 22nd pick of MLB Draft."
