SEATTLE, Wash. – The Seattle Mariners have selected infielder Colt Emerson out of John Glenn High School (New Concord, OH) with their first selection (22nd overall) in the 2023 MLB First-Year Player Draft, Director of Amateur Scouting Scott Hunter announced tonight.
Emerson, 17, batted .455 (84x172) with 26 doubles, 8 triples, 13 home runs, and 51 RBI with a .587 on-base percentage and a .928 slugging percentage (1.515 OPS). He struck out just 14 times in his high school career, while walking 43 times in 54 career games with the John Glenn Muskies.
“Colt is a left-handed hitting high school shortstop from Ohio,” Hunter said. “He is a pure hitter who already possesses an advanced knowledge of the strike zone. 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.”
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound infielder is rated by Baseball America as the No. 27 overall draft prospect and the No. 12 high school prospect. He is also ranked as the No. 29 overall draft prospect and No. 12 high school prospect by MLB.com.
After ending his senior season with a .446 (33x74) batting average, 12 doubles, 3 triples, 5 home runs, and 25 RBI, 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.
Emerson is Seattle’s third-consecutive high school selection in the 1st round and second-consecutive infielder after taking shortstop Cole Young (21st overall) in 2022 and catcher Harry Ford (12th overall) in 2021. Emerson joins Ken Griffey Jr. (selected 1st in 1987) as the Mariners only 1st round selections from Ohio.
Emerson, an Auburn commit, is the first Ohio high school player to be drafted in the first round since left-handed pitcher Matt Smoral (Solon HS) was selected in 2012.
The Mariners will make three more selections tonight with their Prospect Promotion Incentive Pick (29th overall), Competitive Balance A (30th overall) and their 2nd round pick (57th overall).
The 2023 MLB First-Year Player Draft continues tomorrow with rounds 3-10, beginning at 11:00 a.m. PT. Rounds 11-20 will take place on Tuesday, beginning at 11:00 a.m. PT.