EVERETT — Colt Emerson wants to be the guy.
The Everett AquaSox shortstop is not the only player on the team to accept that challenge when issued by the coaching staff — to meet the moments when the game is on the line — but as the Seattle Mariners’ top prospect, it’s expected of him more than anyone.
Emerson wouldn’t want it any other way.
“I feel like if I get the opportunity to do it, you go into the box with the mindset of ‘I want to be the guy,’” Emerson told The Herald last week. “‘I want to be the guy to do it.’ Not in a selfish way, just I have the confidence to be able to go do this. … Just stepping into the box and thinking to yourself, ‘I’m the guy that’s supposed to be here.’”
Sometimes it plays out exactly like a movie script, such as Everett’s 3-2 win against Tri-City on June 14 when Emerson’s two-out, full-count RBI single in the bottom of the ninth secured the walk-off victory. The first thing AquaSox manager Zach Vincej said after the game: “It’s what he does.”
“He wants to win,” Vincej told The Herald when reflecting on that moment the following week. “He’s a competitive dude, and I think when you have that mentality, it’s going to put you over a guy that’s not wanting that opportunity. So for him, he’s always looking for the big hit, trying to make the great play, the diving play, that maybe saves the game. He’s just — that’s his personality, and I think that’s what makes him great.”
Of course, not every opportunity plays out the same way. For every walk-off moment, there are dozens of strikeouts and pop-ups that precede a slow walk back to the dugout. Maybe more. Emerson himself is the first to acknowledge that.
The top prospect, ranked No. 15 overall by MLB.com as of Monday, turns 20 on July 20. Most of his baseball life has been defined by success in a game of failure. After nearly a year in Everett, Emerson is grasping the nuances of the professional game at an age younger than most.
Emerson arrived in Everett last August following a 49-game on-base streak with Single-A Modesto, despite missing time in April and May for separate oblique and foot injuries. In 29 games with the AquaSox to close out 2024, his average dipped to .225 while his OPS was .648 (compared to .293 and .867, respectively, with Modesto). No one wants to struggle at any point in their development, but it’s a natural part of the process for minor league baseball. Vincej’s goal is to help Emerson embrace that.
“When you’re a young player and you’re playing in the minor leagues, it’s like, you’re going to deal with some struggles,” Vincej said. “You’re going to face some adversity, and that’s the biggest that we’re trying to not only teach him, but teach all of our guys: How do we keep showing up? How do we focus on things we can’t control? What (do) our preparation and our routines look like?”
In Emerson’s case, it was easy for Vincej and AquaSox hitting coach Jordan Cowan to answer the last question, each praising his level of preparation.
Emerson starts every morning the same way: Cooking himself a sausage, egg and cheese breakfast burrito. For a typical 7 p.m. game, he’ll arrive at the field around 12:30 and immediately get treatment for any soreness he’s feeling. From there, it’s the typical fielding and hitting routines leading up to first pitch.
On top of making breakfast burritos, Emerson takes ownership in cooking most of his meals, which Cowan considers rare for a prospect his age compared to the players who came out of college.
“When I was his age, at this level, I was going out like getting McDonald’s and stuff like that,” Cowan said. “Granted, the food’s a little better now than it was then, but it’s been awesome to see from him.”
Most nights, Emerson will keep it to simple proteins and carbs, but he’s mastered other recipes like a Cajun chicken alfredo — where he makes the sauce from scratch — as well as a chicken noodle soup “hodgepodge” that he learned from his father, Jamie, which includes beans, chicken, kale, onions and carrots. He’s also proud of his steaks, which he shares with teammates from time to time.
“I think being able to cook is, it’s like finding a diamond,” Emerson said. “I think somebody who can cook is great. Eating is the most important thing in the world, right? Like drinking water and eating is the most important thing, so I think if you have the ability to make the food great-tasting and you don’t have to go to a five-star restaurant just to get that taste, I mean, I think it’s great. And I also find it fun. I find it fun being able to provide a good meal for somebody else.”
When he’s not in the kitchen, Emerson is cooking up in the weight room, which is another area he impresses coaches with his accountability and ownership.
“He’s a pro, on and off the field,” Cowan said. “Everyone obviously sees what he does on the field, but if you saw what he’s doing off the field, you’d understand why. The guy’s always, constantly preparing. Always in a good mindset, whether he’s 4-for-4 or 0-for-4.”
With proper preparation and an unwavering mindset, Emerson’s numbers improved slightly through the first two months of the 2025 season, but didn’t jump off the page. The AquaSox, meanwhile, sat second-to-last in the Northwest League standings entering the month of June.
Suddenly, both player and ballclub started to surge. As Everett went 14-3 through the rest of the first half to reach the top of the standings and clinch a spot in September’s Northwest League Championship Series, Emerson’s performance played a significant role.
Although he missed a handful of games with a lingering hamstring injury — which he is still managing heading into July — Emerson reached base at least once in all 20 games he played in June, with the streak totaling 23 games dating back to May 28. In June, he slashed .324/.432/.563 with three home runs, 10 RBI and more walks (15) than strikeouts (14).
In the week Everett clinched the first-half title, Emerson had a .529 average and 1.720 OPS against Spokane to earn NWL Player of the Week for June 16-22. According to Vincej, Emerson is swinging at the right pitches and has worked hard on elevating the ball. Cowan can see Emerson’s mental growth feeding his on-field performance in real time. Finally, things are paying off.
“I think a lot of it just came from him trusting the process of like, understanding failure is going to happen,” Cowan said. “He didn’t try to do too much (or) more. He wasn’t panicking in the (batting) cages. He’s very mature for his age, he’s just continued to want to get better.”
Cowan cited adjustments such as simplifying his approach at the plate and improving his timing for different pitches as key development points for Emerson, who believes the consistency and high intensity of practices that Vincej operates has played a key role in that.
Emerson, a 2023 first-round pick, is expected to be a major piece for the Mariners down the road. With the foundation he’s building in Everett, the organization is excited about his future.
“This game is hard, especially at his age,” Vincej said. “He’s well-advanced for his age at 19 years old, so just trying to get him to focus on day per day and see what happens from there.”
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