WASHINGTON -- You don’t net $95 million before taking a single Major League at-bat without absolute and unequivocal belief from the organization giving you that contract that you’re going to be a dude.
And just 10 weeks after that unprecedented pact, Colt Emerson continues to look the part.
So much so that the Mariners’ 20-year-old rookie sensation is approaching territory only achieved by Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Rodriguez.
Emerson homered again Saturday, his second of the series and sixth of the season -- and it was a big one that tied the game in the fifth inning of an eventual 8-3 loss at Nationals Park. Unfortunately for Seattle, it came in conjunction with three errors from teammates, two of which directly led to runs, as the Nationals put this one out of reach late.
Through four weeks in The Show, what’s allowed him to start his career so seamlessly?
“Feeling accepted,” Emerson said, “and just feeling like I’m part of the team. It’s hard not to be comfortable with a clubhouse that supports you, a coaching staff that supports you and fans that support you. It’s baseball. I love baseball. So this is where I want to be, and this has been my dream since I was a little kid. So I’m trying to make the most of it.”
Emerson became just the third player in franchise history aged 20 or younger to go yard in consecutive contests, and also climbed to third place all alone on the organization’s leaderboard for most homers before being legally able to consume his first adult beverage.
The two in front of him? You can probably guess by now.
Griffey crushed 38 homers and homered in consecutive games six times before his 21st birthday, and Rodriguez had 26 long balls and three times had back-to-back games with a homer within the same criteria.
Emerson doesn’t turn 21 until July 20, giving him 29 games to chase them down further.
Although he probably won’t pass them in either category, that he’s in shouting distance speaks to his impact despite his youth, and what’s to come over the eight years of the contract. Because Griffey and A-Rod are two of the best to ever play, let alone in Mariners history.
“We knew he was a special player, but to see the power come this quickly like that is impressive,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said.
Saturday’s homer might’ve been his most imposing yet. Emerson fell into an 0-2 count against Nats starter Cade Cavalli, then after being granted a late timeout -- as Cavalli began his windup -- he jumped on a 97.9 mph, up-and-in fastball and yanked it 386 feet into the second deck, narrowly inside the right-field foul pole.
Pull power aside, that he was able to get to that pitch highlighted his elite hand speed, pitch recognition and plate discipline. Because it was perfectly placed and would’ve been strike three had he missed or taken it.
“I’m just trying to do what the game calls for,” said Emerson, who’s recovered from a back spasm that sidelined him three games earlier this week. “Just trying to put together the best at-bats. I’m not being leaned on to try to do everything and be Superman. So I think having that in my mind kind of helped me. There’s a bunch of stars on this team.”
When the Mariners took Emerson No. 22 overall in the 2023 Draft, his profile was predicated most on his hit tool. MLB Pipeline lists it 65 on the 20-80 grade scale as its No. 5 overall prospect, with his power at 50. It’s not that these are miscalculated, but rather, that Emerson might be tapping into something more.
“Growing up, my thing was gap-to-gap and hit doubles,” Emerson said. “Everybody said, ‘Oh, those doubles are going to turn into home runs.' I think what’s happening now is I’m starting to get stronger, starting to get a little bit older and starting to put the barrel on the ball."
Beyond the two runs he put on the board with the big homer, he took one away from the Nationals with an athletic play at shortstop in the seventh.
Playing in with Curtis Mead on third base, he corralled a chopper from Dylan Crews just behind the mound, twisted from one knee with a quick transfer and fired to the plate for the out. It was close enough that the Nats challenged, but the ruling was upheld.
A half-inning earlier, he kept a two-out rally alive by beating CJ Abrams to second base by a shoestring on a would-be forceout.
Basically, he’s flashing all five tools -- and on most nights.