Seattle Mariners shortstop Colt Emerson will undergo season-ending surgery on his left wrist, according to several reports. He is expected to be ready for spring training next year.
The rookie shortstop, 21, had already been on the injured list since Aug. 14 because of the wrist, which was an issue for him going back to spring training.
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After Emerson went on the IL, Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto told the Seattle Times’ Adam Jude that he wished the shortstop had been forthcoming about how much his wrist was bothering him.
“I wish he would have been a little more upfront if it was bothering him that much,” Dipoto said. “He should have said something.”
With a slash line of .190/.244/.325 and below-average play defensively, the Mariners had initially decided to demote Emerson to Triple-A Tacoma after Thursday’s 1-0 loss to the New York Yankees.
During a meeting with Dipoto and manager Dan Wilson, Emerson said he understood the demotion. But then he said he wanted to have his wrist examined because “it’s been a thing,” according to Dipoto.
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Emerson first hurt his wrist early in spring training before Cactus Leagues games had begun. After beginning the season in Triple-A, he had a cortisone injection in the wrist. But just as the MLB season began, the Mariners signed Emerson to an eight-year, $95 million contract, a record deal for a player with no major-league experience.
Seattle‘s No. 1 prospect (and No. 6 in MLB) at the time, Emerson was called up to the majors on May 17 when Brendan Donovan went on the IL with a left groin strain. He soon dealt with wrist and back spasms, but minimized the injuries.
“It … gives me some comfort to understand what happened during his time here,” Dipoto told reporters on Friday. “It’s hard to hit with a bad wrist.”
“Colt Emerson’s never had a problem with contact. He’s never had a problem with velocity,” he added. “We saw things happening that didn’t make sense and this actually might make sense of it.”
Emerson’s season is ending as shortstop J.P. Crawford is on the IL with left wrist inflammation, but is currently on a minor-league rehab assignment. On Sunday, Donovan was placed on the 7-day concussion IL after being hit on the head during batting practice the previous day.
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The Mariners are 62-69 going into Monday’s matchup with the Philadelphia Phillies (winners of nine straight games), leaving them three games behind the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers, currently tied for first place in the AL West. Seattle is also three games back from the AL’s third wild-card playoff spot, but have five teams above them in the standings.
