As the Seattle Mariners get fully immersed in spring training this week, all eyes are on top prospect Colt Emerson. The 20-year-old phenom, who is a consensus top ten prospect in the game, has a chance to break camp with the team.

Even if he doesn't, he figures to play a significant role in the M's season as they look to get to the World Series for the first time.

Jerry Dipoto spoke on Thursday about Emerson, as noted by the Seattle Times:

“It’s not out of question that he earns the spot on the team,” Dipoto said. “I think he knows that. Colt’s confident. He’s always been confident. He’s as humble and well put together as any young player that you’ll ever encounter. That gives him the ability to hit the ground running as a big-leaguer. When a lot of guys will require time to adjust emotionally, I just feel like he’s emotionally prepared for whatever you throw at him, whether it’s starting the season in Tacoma or making the big-league club.”

But while Emerson is very good, the question remains, will he actually be on this team despite having only 40 games above High-A on his resume? And how, if at all, does the presence of Brendan Donovan impact his chances?

The following came from Friday's edition of the 'Refuse to Lose' podcast:

.."things fit nicely now, but if Colt Emerson makes the opening day roster then things do not fit as nicely. I believe, this is my assumption, that the Mariners would prefer to have things be a cleaner fit. The roster, as I just laid out for you, is cleaner without Colt Emerson. Colt Emerson also gets an opportunity to further develop (if he's in the minors).

Further expanding on that point, here's how the roster fits right now:

C: Cal Raleigh

1B: Josh Naylor

2B: Cole Young

SS: J.P. Crawford

3B: Brendan Donovan

LF: Randy Arozarena

CF: Julio Rodriguez

RF: Luke Raley

DH: Dominic Canzone

Bench 1: Andrew Knizner

Bench 2: Victor Robles

Bench 3: Rob Refnsynder

Bench 4: A utility INF, probably Leo Rivas, Ryan Bliss or Miles Mastrobuoni

If Emerson makes the team out of spring training, what is the solution? No true utility INF and a rotating group of Emerson, Young and Donovan playing and sitting? Cutting one of the excess outfielders? Those are hard decisions.

I believe that the Mariners would prefer to have an easy roster fit for now, and re-evaluate if someone is hurt or struggling a month into the season.

The ESPN MLB Insider spoke on Thursday's episode of the podcast and said he still thinks Emerson has a shot to make the team:

​"I ​think ​it's ​the ​same ​as ​it ​was. ​I ​don't ​think ​it ​affects ​it ​at ​all. ​The ​bottom ​line ​is ​they ​know ​that ​Colt ​Emerson ​is ​going ​to ​be ​a ​really ​important ​part ​of ​their ​future. ​They anticipate ​that ​he's ​going ​to ​be ​in ​the ​big ​league ​sometime ​this ​year. ​They ​know ​how ​talented ​he ​is. ​​He's ​demonstrated ​that. ​And ​I ​think ​they're ​going ​to ​be ​open ​minded ​when ​the ​season ​starts. You ​know ​and ​I ​know that ​in ​most ​cases, ​I ​think ​it's ​about ​development of ​the ​player... ​Typically ​teams ​are ​going ​to ​be ​conservative ​with ​​a ​rookie ​like ​that. ​But ​my ​sense ​all ​along ​has ​been ​​that ​the ​Mariners ​are ​going ​to ​bring ​him ​into ​camp ​​and ​they're ​going ​to ​​have ​an ​open ​mind when ​he ​comes, ​and if ​he ​absolutely ​dominates, ​maybe ​they ​look ​at ​him ​start ​the ​year. ​

I ​think, ​just ​in ​keeping ​with ​how ​teams ​typically ​handle ​players ​in ​this ​situation, ​he ​probably ​is ​going ​to ​spend ​some ​time ​in ​the ​minor ​leagues."

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