The Mariners aren’t treating this playoff bye like a victory lap; they’re treating it like an accelerator. Seattle’s first move of October wasn’t a headline-grabbing trade or a dramatic rotation reshuffle — it was a quiet, telling vote of confidence: inviting a 20-year-old phenom to ride shotgun with a postseason club.
Taxi-squad status may sound like paperwork, but in October it’s a message. It says the front office believes this kid can help real big-league hitters get real-game reps, and if the bracket gets weird, he’s close enough to matter.
Make no mistake, this isn’t charity. Colt Emerson has bulldozed his way up the ladder in 2025, turning each promotion into a new stage to dominate.