Colt Emerson of John Glenn selected in first round of 2023 MLB Draft

The Seattle Mariners made the Ohio Division II Player of the Year the No. 22 overall selection in the 2023 MLB Draft

On Sunday evening in the first round of the Major League Baseball draft, John Glenn shortstop Colt Emerson heard his name with the 22nd overall pick, as he was selected by the Seattle Mariners.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Division II Player of the Year in Ohio hit .446 batting with eight home runs and 39 runs scored as a senior for the Little Muskies. He also had 12 doubles, 21 walks and 26 stolen bases to help him to a .594 on-base percentage and a 1.013 slugging percentage.

As a junior, he hit over .450 with 12 doubles, five homers, 21 RBIs and 39 runs scored as he was named first-team All-Ohio.

Emerson was on the USA Baseball Under-18 National Team that won a gold medal at the 2022 World Baseball Championships and is committed to Auburn. The 17-year-old is one of the youngest players is this year’s draft.

He was also named the Gatorade Player of the Year in Ohio following his senior season.

He is the first player from Ohio to be selected in the first round of the draft out of high school since Solon pitcher Matt Smoral in 2012. The last player from Ohio to be selected in the first round was Gahanna Lincoln infielder Evan White, who played at the University of Kentucky before being selected No. 17 overall by the Seattle Mariners.