Overview
- Grady Emerson was selected No. 2 overall on Saturday and became the first high-school player drafted in 2026, a move that confirms he will turn professional rather than play for the University of Texas.
- MLB Pipeline ranked Emerson as the draft’s top prospect and projects him as a left-handed hitter with a chance to develop roughly 25 home runs and remain at shortstop in the big leagues.
- Emerson starred at Fort Worth Christian in his senior year, hitting .532 with seven home runs and 21 steals, and he won the Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year award.
- He trained under Rusty Greer in Texas and is frequently compared to Bobby Witt Jr. because of his athleticism, polished bat, and high-level shortstop actions.
- The Rays used their highest pick since the late 2000s to select a high-upside prep infielder, a choice that adds a premium position-player prospect to their strong development system and raises expectations for their farm pipeline.