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CLEVELAND — In a season of firsts, Seattle Mariners rookie Colt Emerson added more to his personal list this past week.
It started with a cross-country trip to Pittsburgh's PNC Park, a place he had visited multiple times in his childhood. It was there where a throng of fans from the Muskingum Valley flocked to him for photos and autographs throughout the three-game series.
Then came the weekend tilt in Cleveland, another stadium from his formative years, where the process was repeated — and enhanced — in a three-game series with the Guardians.
There were his parents and siblings, of course, and many of his former John Glenn coaches, teachers and administrators. There were other area fans, young and old, who simply wanted to get a close look at the Muskingum Valley's newest big leaguer.
Emerson took it all in before his pre-game workout routines. Many fans stayed late to catch a final glimpse of him before exiting to the team clubhouse. In one instance on June 27, he even signed a baby's jersey.
"Just seeing (the kids) here, seeing their reactions at games — to me this is normal," Emerson said. "This is just baseball. But I know what it's like to be in the stands, to come in the gates and eat stadium food, being a fan first. It only makes it more exciting to play."
It was that kind of week for the Mariners' top prospect and 2023 first-round pick, a former Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year who reached Triple-A at 19. He said during his pregame media session on June 26 that he appreciated the loyalty from local supporters.
"I'm glad they have my back," Emerson said.
Six games within a few hours' drive gave his ever-growing legion of fans many chances to see him play.
"I just want to see everybody and be able to give back," Emerson said. "To sign a ball or a card for a young kid or a young fan, that was the most special thing. And just being able to share it with my family. Seeing all the people in Pittsburgh and then again here in Cleveland, it's just super special."
With his childhood home located in the middle of three MLB markets in Cincinnati, Cleveland and Pittsburgh, and with two minor league parks even closer in Columbus and Akron, there was no shortage of professional baseball baseball within reach. Emerson spoke of watching players with the current Guardians that he saw in Triple-A Columbus.
But one of his his grandfathers was a big Cleveland fan, and the iconic baseball movie "Major League" happens to be one of Colt's favorites. That made the trip to Progressive Field for his Ohio debut, a place where he recalled being enamored by the downtown skyline as a kid, "super cool."
Those games he attended there also planted seeds in his mind when it came to his future. Playing in the big leagues was a goal he always saw within reach, even if the odds suggested otherwise.
Emerson is the first player from a Muskingum County high school to see a big league field since Zanesville's Jay Payton, whose 12-year career ended in 2010.
"It was like, in due time it was going to happen," Emerson said. "There was never a thought of, 'oh it's not going to happen.' It's just something I wanted to do. I love the game and I respect the game. I'm just so grateful to be here."
Known for an advanced, line-drive approach at the plate, Emerson has been a surprise power source. He is one of three Ohio products in the lineup in Ohio State product Dominic Canzone and Luke Raley, who played at Walsh Jesuit and Lake Erie College. The trio combined for 35 of the team's 62 homers through June 29.
While Emerson's average slipped to .200 after the Cleveland series, his homer every 17 at-bats would equate to 38 over a full season. Of Mariners with at least 100 at-bats, his .443 slugging percentage ranks fourth, his .725 OPS is sixth and his batting average on balls in play (BABIP) of .243 insists the numbers can improve. For good measure, he sports a .981 fielding percentage between third base and shortstop.
Emerson said he has been fortunate to watch many of his current teammates, and their daily approach, and said he has leaned on the veterans that have endured the rigors of a full season. Emerson is learning that on the fly.
"It has been a fun journey," Emerson said. "It has been a lot of ups and downs, but I try not to get too hard on myself. I am just excited to keep going at it and keep make people proud."
Emerson's fans saw witnessed his seventh homer in his first 32 games — a two-out, two-strike liner to right field off Guardians starter Joey Cantillo. His first homer in his home state was among the most memorable hits of his professional life and one he deemed "huge."
He thanked his teammates in the dugout, who provided plenty of intelligence leading into his at-bat. The first eight batters failed to get a hit the first time through the order.
"So kudos to them for being teammates and getting me to that spot," Emerson said. "Down two strikes, I was just looking for something the zone and hit it up the middle. ... I was able to get a good barrel on it.
'(Cantillo) is a great pitcher," Emerson said. "He's got really good stuff. It's kind of one of things where you black out and just swing the bat, take a two-strike approach and just get inside of it."
After scoring, a throng of Mariners fans — many of them local — held up signs to commemorate the moment.
"I took my time running around the bases just to look," Emerson admitted. "I grew up playing here. First at-bat you hit a home run, crossing home plate and seeing the boys — I love seeing those guys smile and I love seeing the support. It's cool."
When asked if the moment was how he had dreamt of it, he downplayed it.
"I give the credit to God," Emerson said. "He's the one who keeps the bat in my hands."
Emerson also walked twice in his final three at-bats, scoring the go-ahead run in the eighth on a Julio Rodriguez single that proved to be the game winner. They were the highlights of the series for the club's top prospect, who also drew a walk in the second game of the series and singled in the rubber game, a 6-5 Mariners loss.
His whirlwind week finally came to a close as the team trekked back home. It was just in time for a 6-2 home win against the Angels on June 29, fueled by two homers from second baseman Cole Young and eight strong innings from George Kirby.
The off day on July 1 was the team's second since June 16, but Emerson, who moved up to seventh in the batting order against the Angels on June 30, shook off the the notion of a tough stretch in the schedule much like he has every other task thrown his way since being drafted.`
"It's just ball, man," Emerson said, following the team's 4-3 loss to Cleveland on June 27. "I'm good. I'm having a blast."
[email protected]; X: @SamBlackburnTR
This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Colt Emerson's 'fun journey' giving fans plenty of thrills
Continue reading...
It started with a cross-country trip to Pittsburgh's PNC Park, a place he had visited multiple times in his childhood. It was there where a throng of fans from the Muskingum Valley flocked to him for photos and autographs throughout the three-game series.
Then came the weekend tilt in Cleveland, another stadium from his formative years, where the process was repeated — and enhanced — in a three-game series with the Guardians.
There were his parents and siblings, of course, and many of his former John Glenn coaches, teachers and administrators. There were other area fans, young and old, who simply wanted to get a close look at the Muskingum Valley's newest big leaguer.
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Emerson took it all in before his pre-game workout routines. Many fans stayed late to catch a final glimpse of him before exiting to the team clubhouse. In one instance on June 27, he even signed a baby's jersey.
"Just seeing (the kids) here, seeing their reactions at games — to me this is normal," Emerson said. "This is just baseball. But I know what it's like to be in the stands, to come in the gates and eat stadium food, being a fan first. It only makes it more exciting to play."
It was that kind of week for the Mariners' top prospect and 2023 first-round pick, a former Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year who reached Triple-A at 19. He said during his pregame media session on June 26 that he appreciated the loyalty from local supporters.
"I'm glad they have my back," Emerson said.
Six games within a few hours' drive gave his ever-growing legion of fans many chances to see him play.
"I just want to see everybody and be able to give back," Emerson said. "To sign a ball or a card for a young kid or a young fan, that was the most special thing. And just being able to share it with my family. Seeing all the people in Pittsburgh and then again here in Cleveland, it's just super special."
You must be registered for see images attach
'A fun journey'
With his childhood home located in the middle of three MLB markets in Cincinnati, Cleveland and Pittsburgh, and with two minor league parks even closer in Columbus and Akron, there was no shortage of professional baseball baseball within reach. Emerson spoke of watching players with the current Guardians that he saw in Triple-A Columbus.
But one of his his grandfathers was a big Cleveland fan, and the iconic baseball movie "Major League" happens to be one of Colt's favorites. That made the trip to Progressive Field for his Ohio debut, a place where he recalled being enamored by the downtown skyline as a kid, "super cool."
Those games he attended there also planted seeds in his mind when it came to his future. Playing in the big leagues was a goal he always saw within reach, even if the odds suggested otherwise.
Emerson is the first player from a Muskingum County high school to see a big league field since Zanesville's Jay Payton, whose 12-year career ended in 2010.
"It was like, in due time it was going to happen," Emerson said. "There was never a thought of, 'oh it's not going to happen.' It's just something I wanted to do. I love the game and I respect the game. I'm just so grateful to be here."
You must be registered for see images attach
Known for an advanced, line-drive approach at the plate, Emerson has been a surprise power source. He is one of three Ohio products in the lineup in Ohio State product Dominic Canzone and Luke Raley, who played at Walsh Jesuit and Lake Erie College. The trio combined for 35 of the team's 62 homers through June 29.
While Emerson's average slipped to .200 after the Cleveland series, his homer every 17 at-bats would equate to 38 over a full season. Of Mariners with at least 100 at-bats, his .443 slugging percentage ranks fourth, his .725 OPS is sixth and his batting average on balls in play (BABIP) of .243 insists the numbers can improve. For good measure, he sports a .981 fielding percentage between third base and shortstop.
Emerson said he has been fortunate to watch many of his current teammates, and their daily approach, and said he has leaned on the veterans that have endured the rigors of a full season. Emerson is learning that on the fly.
"It has been a fun journey," Emerson said. "It has been a lot of ups and downs, but I try not to get too hard on myself. I am just excited to keep going at it and keep make people proud."
A 'huge' moment at The Prog
Emerson's fans saw witnessed his seventh homer in his first 32 games — a two-out, two-strike liner to right field off Guardians starter Joey Cantillo. His first homer in his home state was among the most memorable hits of his professional life and one he deemed "huge."
He thanked his teammates in the dugout, who provided plenty of intelligence leading into his at-bat. The first eight batters failed to get a hit the first time through the order.
"So kudos to them for being teammates and getting me to that spot," Emerson said. "Down two strikes, I was just looking for something the zone and hit it up the middle. ... I was able to get a good barrel on it.
'(Cantillo) is a great pitcher," Emerson said. "He's got really good stuff. It's kind of one of things where you black out and just swing the bat, take a two-strike approach and just get inside of it."
You must be registered for see images
After scoring, a throng of Mariners fans — many of them local — held up signs to commemorate the moment.
"I took my time running around the bases just to look," Emerson admitted. "I grew up playing here. First at-bat you hit a home run, crossing home plate and seeing the boys — I love seeing those guys smile and I love seeing the support. It's cool."
When asked if the moment was how he had dreamt of it, he downplayed it.
"I give the credit to God," Emerson said. "He's the one who keeps the bat in my hands."
Emerson also walked twice in his final three at-bats, scoring the go-ahead run in the eighth on a Julio Rodriguez single that proved to be the game winner. They were the highlights of the series for the club's top prospect, who also drew a walk in the second game of the series and singled in the rubber game, a 6-5 Mariners loss.
His whirlwind week finally came to a close as the team trekked back home. It was just in time for a 6-2 home win against the Angels on June 29, fueled by two homers from second baseman Cole Young and eight strong innings from George Kirby.
The off day on July 1 was the team's second since June 16, but Emerson, who moved up to seventh in the batting order against the Angels on June 30, shook off the the notion of a tough stretch in the schedule much like he has every other task thrown his way since being drafted.`
"It's just ball, man," Emerson said, following the team's 4-3 loss to Cleveland on June 27. "I'm good. I'm having a blast."
[email protected]; X: @SamBlackburnTR
This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Colt Emerson's 'fun journey' giving fans plenty of thrills
Continue reading...
