EVERETT — Everett AquaSox fans will get a chance to take their first look at another highly-ranked prospect this week when the team returns home after a 2-4 trip to Hillsboro.
Colt Emerson, the No. 3-ranked prospect in the Seattle Mariners organization according to MLB.com, joined the team last week after a promotion from Single-A Modesto. The 22nd-overall pick in the 2023 draft out of Glenn High School in New Concord, Ohio, Emerson has made a quick climb to land in High-A ball as a 19-year-old. A middle infield prospect, he started five games against the Hops, including four at shortstop and one at third base.
Emerson put up strong numbers in Modesto and showed a good eye at the plate. He batted .293 with 12 doubles and two home runs. He walked 35 times in 40 games against 27 strikeouts for a .440 on-base percentage and a .867 OPS.
Last week against the Hops, Emerson batted just .158 but still managed to get on base 36% of the time. The left-handed hitter’s RBI-double gave his team the lead for good in the 10th inning on Sunday.
Week in review: The AquaSox have struggled at times to hold onto late leads this season, and that was no different in Hillsboro. Everett lost two ninth-inning leads against the Hops as the two teams went into extra innings three times. The Frogs lost twice in the 10th inning before breaking through Sunday with three runs in the 10th. It all led to the Frogs (18-24 second half, 50-58 overall) staring a 7-game deficit to Vancouver for a berth in the Northwest League Championship Series with 18 games remaining in the regular season.
Players of the week
Hitter: Michael Arroyo. The middle infielder, who had been starting at shortstop most of the time prior to Emerson’s arrival, appeared unfazed by moving to second base. Arroyo, who is the ninth-ranked prospect in the Mariners organization, batted .476 and smacked two homers while driving in eight runs. Those were team highs last week, as were his 1.405 OPS and six runs. His best game came on Friday’s 8-2 win, when he hit a leadoff homer and drove in two more runs with a second-inning single.
Pitcher: Stefan Raeth. A 17th-round pick out of the University of Washington in 2022, Raeth pitched a pair of scoreless innings against the Hops. He struck out three, walked one and didn’t allow a hit.
The week ahead: If the AquaSox are to make a postseason push, this is the week to do it. Vancouver travels to Everett for a six-game series at Funko Field holding a seven-game advantage for the second championship series spot. The Frogs will need to break this season’s trend to do it. Everett has faced the Canadians in three series this season, going 3-3 in each one. Vancouver brings the heat, striking out opponents a league-best 9.92 times per nine innings.
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