The Seattle Mariners will be among the major league clubs with the most players competing in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, which is set to take place from March 4-17.

With the amount of major league talent the Mariners will send to the international competition, many players will have an opportunity to make an impact with the atypical Cactus League lineups.

One of the players likely to receive more chances than usual is Seattle's top overall prospect Colt Emerson, who has a chance to make an immediate impact for the organization in 2026.

Emerson, the M's top pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, was ranked No. 9 on MLB Pipeline's end-of-season top 100 prospect list.

He started 2025 with the High-A Everett AquaSox but rose the ranks to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers and was on Seattle's playoff taxi squad.

Emerson finished his season with a slash line of .285/.383/.458 with an .841 OPS in 130 games. He also hit 28 doubles, six triples and 16 home runs with 78 RBIs.

For most of the offseason, it's been reported that the team's open major league third base position will come down to either Emerson or 2025 rookie Ben Williamson -- unless the team adds another third baseman.

In an appearance on Seattle Sports 710 on Jan. 13, Seattle Times reporter Adam Jude discussed what Emerson's spring will likely look like and the potential of him breaking camp with the Mariners.

"Emerson's gonna get a ton of (at-bats), he's gonna get a ton of reps throughout the infield, he's gonna be the most talked about guy in Mariners camp come March 1," Jude said on his radio appearance. "I have little doubt about that. ... Everyone I talk to, both outside of the Mariners and inside the Mariners, he's the real deal. I'm getting a lot of Kyle Seager and Corey Seager comps, somewhere between Kyle Seager and Corey Seager. ... I've heard comps to (Raleigh) in terms of just his baseball acumen and passion for the game, a desire to win. ... The real question is, how comfortable will the Mariners be with opening the season with a 20-year-old prospect, no matter how good he is and how mature he is."

Jude also said that if Emerson is on the Opening Roster, he won't be there to ride the bench. 

Since president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto and general manager Justin Hollander have taken over the front office, they've made it a habit to not rush prospects before they're ready. But there's been precedent of the team giving a runway to minor leaguers when it's fit the roster, such as '25 debuts Williamson, second baseman Cole Young and starting pitcher Logan Evans.

If Emerson is able to put together a quality spring, there might not be no choice but to see what Emerson can do in the major leagues.

Recently, ESPN MLB Insider Buster Olney predicted Emerson to win the American League Rookie of the Year.

Back in June of 2025, Emerson was a guest on the 'Refuse to Lose,' podcast. You can listen to that interview here.

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