Mariners call up top prospect Colt Emerson for MLB debut - ESPN

The Seattle Mariners promoted top prospect Colt Emerson from Triple-A Tacoma on Sunday and placed All-Star utilityman Brendan Donovan on the 10-day injured list with a left groin muscle strain.

Emerson, 20, entered the season as ESPN's No. 6-ranked prospect. He is starting Sunday's game against the Padres at third base and batting ninth.

Emerson was originally announced in Tacoma's lineup for the Rainiers' home game against Sugar Land but was scratched shortly before first pitch. Instead, he made the quick drive north to Seattle and will be the youngest Mariners player to make his major league debut since Félix Hernández did so at 19 years old on Aug. 4, 2005.

General manager Justin Hollander said the Mariners electing to call up Emerson wasn't on his bingo card Sunday morning, nor was placing Donovan on the IL.

«I probably wouldn't have taken the kids tidepooling in Deception Pass (State Park) this morning,» Hollander said with a chuckle. «But, we want to do the right thing for Colt. We also want to do the right thing for the Mariners. We think he's the best option. This period will get him some runway. This is not a 15 at-bat or 20 at-bat tryout to see if he's capable of taking the job and running with it for the rest of the year.»

Hollander confirmed that Emerson, who is viewed as the shortstop of the future in the Emerald City, will primarily see time at third base at the start of his major league career. He started five games at third base for the Rainiers this season.

J.P. Crawford, the longest-tenured player on Seattle's roster, remains the everyday shortstop. Crawford, who started the season on the injured list with a right shoulder injury, is hitting .217 with six homers in 39 games.

Hollander said he, manager