The Seattle Mariners, who just engineered a three-game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds at the Major League level, got some bad news at the minor league level on Wednesday as top prospect Colt Emerson hit the injured list.

Per Chris Correa on social media:

Seattle Mariners 2023 first round pick and #3 ranked prospect Colt Emerson is hitting the IL with an oblique injury.

Emerson is only 18-years-old and MLB.com lists his potential MLB ETA as 2026, so this doesn’t really impact the Mariners this year, but it’s still disappointing from a development standpoint. Oblique injuries are tricky, ranging from a few weeks to a few months recovery, so we’ll have to wait for further announcements.

Emerson was out to a torrid start this year, hitting .318 for High-A Modesto. He pairs with fellow top prospect Cole Young to make an exciting group of position player prospects for Seattle.

In five games, he already has two home runs and five RBI this season.

The following comes from a portion of his MLB.com prospect profile:

The athleticism Emerson has as a former all-state wide receiver shows up on the baseball field consistently. He has a smooth left-handed swing geared for hard contact and his advanced approach was on display as he walked nearly as often (17 times) as he struck out (20) during his pro debut. Thought to be a definitive hit-over-power guy, his pop showed up much more than anyone anticipated, and his bat speed plus strength should continue to translate to in-game power.

Emerson has excellent instincts and is a steady defender at shortstop even though he’s an average runner. He has enough arm for the left side of the infield and played a good third for Team USA, while he also got some reps at second during his pro debut. Wherever he settles in, he has the chance to be an everyday big league performer and gives the Mariners an opportunity to boast a trifecta of high school draftee standouts, following Harry Ford and Cole Young.

The Mariners open up a series with the Colorado Rockies on Friday night.

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