How Mariners prospect Colt Emerson’s football days helped his MLB ascent

PEORIA, Ariz. — The Colt Emerson play his high school football coach remembers most occurred during a game on Oct. 22, 2021. It was not the half-ending Hail Mary he skied to snare between defenders for a titanic 41-yard touchdown. It was the targeting penalty that resulted in Emerson’s ejection. More on that in a minute. On Thursday, Emerson — a consensus top-10 prospect in MLB — went 2 for 3 in the Mariners’ 8-7 Cactus League win over the Cleveland Guardians. The highlight was an RBI triple that trickled to the wall, as Emerson lost his helmet barreling around second base. The 20-year-old torpedo slid headfirst into third, then pointed to his dugout with dirt darkening his jersey. He...