UPDATE: Story has been updated at 2:48 p.m. PT to include quotes from Mariners general manager Justin Hollander following Emerson's promotion.

SEATTLE — The top player in the Seattle Mariners farm system is set to make his major league debut.

Shortstop/third baseman Colt Emerson (No. 6 MLB Pipeline top 100) is set to be called up by the Mariners ahead of a series finale against the San Diego Padres on Sunday, per a report from Seattle Times reporter Ryan Divish.

Emerson was on his way to T-Mobile Park in Seattle at the time of Divish's report at 1:30 p.m. PT.

Emerson was set to be in the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers lineup for a game against the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, which began at 1:35 p.m. PT on Sunday at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma, Wash.

Emerson is slashing .255/.347/.469 with an .816 OPS in 38 games this season with the Rainiers. He's hit eight doubles, a triple and seven home runs with 26 RBIs and has stolen 10 bases in 13 attempts.

Emerson will play third base and bat ninth in the lineup for the M's in a series finale against the San Diego Padres on Sunday at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.

"There is no perfect time (for a promotion). He's ready," Mariners manager Justin Hollander said in an interview Sunday at T-Mobile Park. "I talked to (director of player development) Justin Toole this morning when he called (Emerson), he said Colt said 'Great. I'll be right there.' He was very matter-of-fact, there was no jumping up and down, no celebrating. It was 'I'm gonna go pack by bag I'll head right up.' He's just wired that way to handle whatever it is, the time that we were going to do this. I was confident that Colt would be fine with it."

The 20-year-old infielder was originally selected in the first round with the 22nd overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. Emerson was limited to just 94 games in the minor leagues from 2023-24 due to various injuries but hit his stride in 2025.

Last year, Emerson began the year with the High-A Everett AquaSox and ended the year with Tacoma. He was also on the Mariners' postseason taxi squad and got a firsthand look for a portion of the team's run to the American League Championship Series.

The Zanesville, Ohio, native entered spring training this year with an opportunity to earn a starting job and break camp with the major league roster.

Emerson was unable to earn a starting spot in camp, with the open spots of third base going and second base going to Brendan Donovan and Cole Young, respectively.

Nonetheless, Seattle showed a major sign of faith in the organization by signing Emerson to an eight-year, $95 million contract at the beginning of April. It was the largest contract extension in MLB history for a player who had not yet played a game in the major leagues and will keep Emerson on the team through the 2033 season.

Donovan was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left groin strain in a corresponding move to Emerson's promotion.

Despite his natural position being a shortstop, Emerson has also recently spent time at third base in Triple-A. He'll be the major league club's primary third baseman going forward, per Hollander.

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