It was kind of humorous, but it also shows just what a smart player he is.
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Seattle Mariners were shut out on Monday afternoon by the Los Angeles Dodgers, falling 3-0.
The Mariners are now 2-2 on the Cactus League season and while the results don't matter much, there wasn't much positive in the way of process in this one either.
Logan Gilbert pitched well, giving up one hit and two walks over two innings while striking out two. It was his first start of the spring and the first start by any of the Mariners' projected members of the starting rotation. He hit 97 mph on his fastball and flashed his trademark splitter. He worked on all his pitches, which he said was his main goal of the day. Carlos Vargas threw a scoreless inning also.
Despite the lackluster performance, there was one moment that really stood out from top prospect Colt Emerson.
In the bottom of the second inning, the Dodgers had a runner at first and one out. Gilbert was pitching. The hitter laced a line drive to Emerson at shortstop, who intentionally dropped the ball in order to try to secure a double play. The umpires didn't allow the attempt, giving the Mariners just the one out on the batter, but the attempt actually showed quite a lot about Emerson.
It showed that he's a smart player, always thinking the game. He clearly had that play planned in his head, re-iterating that he understands the situations in front of him. Even though the umpires didn't allow it to happen, you have to appreciate a young player that is thinking in advance, rather than just reacting.
His manager appreciated it as well.
"Yeah, no doubt. That's the kind of player we know he is and just thinking along with the game and kind of a lighter moment, but at the same time it shows you that he knows what's expected, he's in the game mentally and just a heads up play on his part," Dan Wilson said after the game.
About Emerson
Emerson was a first-round pick of the Mariners in 2023 out of the Ohio high school ranks. He hit .285 in the 2025 minor league season with 16 homers, 78 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. He ended the year at Triple-A Tacoma and was with the Mariners on the taxi squad for playoff preparations.
At just 20 years old, he's battling for a starting job at second base or third base in spring training.
He has just 40 games above High-A, so the Mariners could opt to start him at Triple-A, but either way, he seems destined for that major league promotion in 2026.
Emerson joined our Refuse to Lose podcast back in June of 2025, and you can listen to that here.
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