Another sunny day in Peoria. Another day getting to know the latest version of the Mariners. Tuesday was quite educational.
- Cal Raleigh isn't kidding about wanting to play all 162 games behind the plate. He was named after Cal Ripken, you know (that is the truth). Needless to say, Ripken wasn't a Catcher. Sorry 29, it ain't happenin'.
- When asked if 70 stolen bases are a possibility in 2025, Victor Robles was quick to respond, "why not?" He was dead serious.
- Bryce Miller has another new pitch. We'll find out more about it Wednesday morning.
- New hitting coach Kevin Seitzer compares the Mariners top prospects (Emerson, Young, Montes, etc.) to a certain group he watched arrive on the scene when he was in Atlanta (guys named Ronald Acuna, Austin Riley, Michael Harris & others).
Which leads us to Day 2's top storyline. The kids.
Tuesday, on Chuck & Buck, we introduced the Mariners' top two prospects, Colt Emerson and Cole Young, to our Seattle audience. They're both from the Midwest, both mid-first round picks (22nd & 21st respectively), both play shortstop, each has a hit tool that scouts consider the strength of their game, they're about the same age and they are knocking loudly on Major League Baseball's front door.
All that said, the two are actually quite different.
I couldn't help but be reminded of Jarred Kelenic when interviewing Emerson. He speaks like him, his mannerisms are similar, he actually sounds like him, he even looks like him. But unlike Jarred, who I do still like very much, Emerson's maturity jumps off the charts, his knowledge and self-awareness bely his 19 years of age, and his confidence reads as pure confidence, as opposed to being read/misread as arrogance.
Emerson hits for power, which likely explains his meteoric rise past Young to the top of the MLB prospect rankings. Hell, Keith Law named him the 4th best prospect in all of baseball. Top 4! That's smarty-pants Keith Law saying Colt Emerson is going to be a superstar.
As for Cole Young, a high floor seems to be his strength, particularly with the bat. Unlike Emerson, Young seems fixed to either SS or 2B. HIs eyes actually went wide when I asked him about possibly switching to a position other than middle infield, where Emerson seems resigned and unbothered about a shift to third.
Colt Emerson is strikingly self-assured, where Cole Young's 'aw-shucks' responses to praise, his self-deprecating comedy routine explaining his first ever mustache and that jaw-shifting discomfort he displayed when asked to describe himself were endearing to behold. The guy wouldn't even say a bad word about Russell Wilson, when asked to evaluate his beloved Steelers most recent quarterback.
I found Cole Young to be very likable. I felt the same way about Colt Emerson. Just different. I certainly hope they form one helluva friendship starting with their first big-league camp together in 2025, because I think Jerry Dipoto envisions them sharing an infield for about a decade to come.
Oh, and one other difference between the two prospects. Emerson might be the hottest of the young names at Camp in 2025, but Cole Young seems closer to reaching his goal of playing Major League Baseball. Hell, some aren't ruling out a Mariner uniform by Opening Day.