Colt Emerson, Cole Young delivering Mariners promising peek at future

You wouldn't know Colt Emerson was a major-leaguer by looking at his frame.

You wouldn't know he was one by looking at his clothes, either.

After the Mariners' 3-0 win over Baltimore on Thursday, the Seattle shortstop took note of a team staffer's attire before fielding questions from the media.

Nice shirt. I got the same one," Emerson said. "Target?"

"Yeah, Target," replied the staffer.

"They got nice polos," said Colt.

"Cheap, too," said the staffer.

"Heck yeah," said Emerson.

And that's how a 20-year-old who signed an eight-year, $95 million extension earlier this year is just like you and me. Doubtful there's a whole lot else.

Among the biggest stories of the season for the Mariners is the youngster getting called up from Triple-A Tacoma last month for what looks like a long-term stay. And in his 25 games in the show, Emerson has homered six times, racked up an OPS of .838, and showcased his touted defensive ability to the point of accumulating a 1.0 WAR heading into Thursday's game - a pace that would put him in All-Star contention over a full season.

His teammate across the infield has been nearly as effective - maybe not with the bat but even more so with the glove. In 75 games this season, Mariners second baseman Cole Young has accumulated a 2.3 WAR - with the 22-year-old's 1.5 defensive WAR leading the American League.

Perhaps these figures are too inside-baseball for traditionalists. The gist? This pair is balling out. And on a day when the Mariners' lineup was sans a couple stars, Emerson and Young gave fans a promising peek into the team's future.

Most of it happened in the first inning. With two outs in the bottom of the frame, Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor singled. One at-bat later, right fielder Dominic Canzone walked. The next at-bat? A Young double to left that scored Naylor. The one after that? An Emerson single that brought home Canzone and Young.

That was more than enough for Seattle's pitching. Starter Bryan Woo threw seven scoreless innings, giving up three hits and one walk while striking out nine. Eduard Bazardo pitched the eighth, Andrés Muñoz the ninth, and the M's (39-37) took the series from the Orioles to increase their lead over the A's in the AL West to two games.

There were praiseworthy feats throughout the lineup, which did not include injured sluggers Julio Rodríguez and Randy Arozarena. But perhaps most encouraging - is that the kids came through.

"They've been fantastic," said Woo of Emerson and Young. "Colt, obviously you guys see the talent, and I've just been more impressed with his consistency every day, at-bat to at-bat, game to game, and just not getting too high or too low."

And Young, who's now in his second year in the majors?

"What's really impressed me is the adjustments made from last year into this year. This year is just such a professional approach. Just staying consistent and almost stubborn with his approach. … But they're still kids. They're still goofballs."

Emerson started his big-league career at third base but has since made the inevitable shift to shortstop. This turned former shortstop J.P. Crawford into a third baseman, where he has excelled.

A couple of gems Thursday from Crawford - mixed in with some grins - proved that he is not only adjusting to his new position, but thriving.

"He was born to field ground balls, Mariners manager Dan Wilson said Thursday.

The focus for the Mariners right now is this year, as a playoff spot is a long way from secure. Record-wise, they are underachieving, but have the luxury of playing in the weakest division in MLB.

The brass is always thinking about the future, though. And right now, they have Emerson under club control through 2034. They have Rodríguez here through that same year. They have catcher Cal Raleigh through at least 2030. And if they lock down Young long-term, they'll have a lineup core that will endure into the next decade.

Maybe this is making too much out of one game from Emerson and Young. But what happened Thursday was hardly an outlier to what have been outstanding seasons.

Their development appears right on schedule. Their production? Right on target.

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This story was originally published June 18, 2026 at 11:44 PM.