Emerson grew up in Cambridge, Ohio and attended John Glenn High School.[1] As a junior in 2022, he batted .459 with five home runs, 12 doubles, three triples, and 21 runs batted in (RBIs).[2] Emerson played for the United States in the 2022 U-18 Baseball World Cup and batted .360.[3] In his senior season, he hit.446 with eight home runs, 39 runs scored, and 25 RBIs. He was named the Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year and the Division II Player of the Year.[4] Emerson committed to play college baseball at Auburn.[5][6] He also played football as a wide receiver during his first three years at John Glenn and was a first team All-Ohio selection during his junior year after catching 58 passes for 756 yards and eight touchdowns.[7]
Professional career
Emerson was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the first round, with the 22nd overall selection, of the 2023 Major League Baseball draft.[8] On July 14, Emerson signed with the Mariners for $3.8 million, exceeding the $3.5 million slot value of the pick.[9] Emerson made his professional debut in August with the Arizona Complex League Mariners. After 8 games, Emerson advanced to the Single-AModesto Nuts. He reached base in all but one of his minor league 28 games in 2023 including postseason games.[10] He hit .374 with 10 doubles, 2 home runs, and 8 stolen bases. He split time at second base and shortstop.[11] In the two-game California League Championship, Emerson went 6-for-10 as the Nuts swept the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.[12][10]
Emerson was ranked on many top 100 prospect lists entering 2024. He returned to Modesto to start the season.[11] He hit a first pitch home run to start his season.[13][14] He went on the Nuts' injured list twice, missing two weeks in April with an oblique injury then missing more than a month after fouling a ball off his foot in May, causing a stress fracture.[15][16] He was promoted to the High-AEverett Aquasox in August. He reached base in 49 consecutive games from April 7 until August 17.[17] After batting .293/.440.427 in Modesto, Emerson struggled in Everett, hitting only .225/.331/.317. After the season, Emerson played for the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League.[18] His hitting rebounded, batting .370 in 13 games, but another injury, this one to his hamstring, cut short his Fall League play.[19] He was named to the Fall Stars Game but did not play in the contest.[20][21]
