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Mariners Demote Former No. 1 Prospect Amid Devastating Slump
0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. The Seattle Mariners optioned infielder Colt Emerson to Triple-A following an extended period of poor production at the plate.
Emerson, the Mariners' No. 1 prospect heading into the season, made his MLB debut for the team on May 17, and caught the hearts of fans the following day when his first MLB hit left the ballpark. He had an incredibly strong first month in the majors, batting .244 and posting a .852 OPS through 13 games in May, but hasn't produced anywhere near that level since.
In June, Emerson batted just above the Mendoza Line, posting an OPS below .700, and his numbers continued to decline. Through 69 games this season, Emerson had a .190/.246/.335 slash line, and went hitless through his most recent five games in MLB.
Wednesday's game against the New York Yankees served as the breaking point, as Emerson went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts on the night.
Over the course of his 69 games in the bigs, Emerson struggled in just about every metric at the plate. His expected numbers are well below where they need to be, and he failed to make hard contact at a consistent rate. The biggest red flags, though, are the rates at which he whiffs and strikes out.
Emerson whiffed on 34.1% of the balls he swung at prior to his demotion, and his 34.4% strikeout rate is the highest on the team among players who have more than 30 games under their belt this season.
To replace Emerson on the roster, the Mariners are expected to call up infielder Brock Rodden to the MLB roster, per the Seattle Times' Ryan Divish.
In addition to Rodden, the Mariners have a few options who could shift around the infield. Shortstop J.P. Crawford is out injured, but Brendan Donovan and Cole Young are more than capable of manning the position in a pinch. Leo Rivas is also still on the active roster — though his offensive production has also been an issue this season.
Emerson found plenty of success in Triple-A before his call up this season, hitting seven homers in 38 games while posting a .816 OPS, and will hope he can do the same during his next stint as he aims for an MLB return.
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