Overview
- Tampa Bay used the lottery-awarded No. 2 overall pick to select Grady Emerson on Saturday, July 11, 2026, taking MLB Pipeline’s top-ranked prep prospect.
- Emerson is a left-handed hitting shortstop with an advanced hit tool, polished plate approach, and projection to add above-average power as he fills out his 6-foot-3 frame.
- His résumé includes the 2026 Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year honor, multiple USA Baseball national-team selections and a 2025 U‑18 World Cup gold medal.
- Emerson transferred to Fort Worth Christian to train under former major leaguer Rusty Greer, and scouts compare his athletic profile to Bobby Witt Jr. while noting the projection risk that comes with top high‑school bats.
- The pick fits Tampa Bay’s recent pattern of drafting high‑school position players to develop in its farm system and is expected to push Emerson to forgo his Texas commitment in favor of a professional contract at the slot value.