Fort Worth Christian phenom goes in top five of MLB draft. See where he landed
Fort Worth Christian standout shortstop Grady Emerson is heading to the big leagues.
The Tampa Bay Rays selected the local high school baseball phenom with the No. 2 overall pick at the 2026 MLB draft in Philadelphia on Saturday. In what analysts believed to be a close race, UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky caught the attention of the Chicago White Sox and was selected first overall.
Emerson put his hands over his face and looking visibly emotional when his name was called. He quickly turned to hug his parents, sharing a special moment with his family.
“This was a super special moment,” Emerson said in an interview on NBC’s broadcast. “It’s something every kid dreams of. Being with everybody who has come support me around [the draft]. It’s really great, and I’m super thankful.”
Emerson just missed out on history; a high schooler from Texas hasn’t been taken No. 1 overall since the Texas Rangers drafted David Clyde out of Houston’s Westchester High School in 1973. A Fort Worth-area player has never been taken No. 1 in the MLB draft.
The No. 2 overall draft pick has an assigned value of $10.5 million, according to MLB.com.
“It all started with just me and pops going to the cages when I was young,” Emerson said. “I was always a gym rat. Always liked to get in the cages. So, I always worked on it and worked on it.”
Emerson is the second high-profile draft selection out of the Fort Worth-area in the past decade. The Kansas City Royals selected Bobby Witt Jr. with the second overall pick in the 2019 MLB draft; Witt Jr. recently earned his third MLB All-Star selection.
Emerson and Witt Jr. have shared a personal connection, as Emerson credited him and Greer for helping him develop his fielding prowess.
Emerson, the 2026 Gatorade National Player of the Year, was a force at Fort Worth Christian in his senior season, leading the Cardinals to the TAPPS Division II state championship game with a stellar .532 average. He was named the Star-Telegram Offensive Player of the Year.
“We think [Grady has] the best hit tools in the class, high school or college,” MLB draft writer Carlos Collazo said on NBC’s broadcast. “He is an impeccable, pure hitter with an elite track record. In the summer circuit, he faced elite competition, and he handled it.
“He can handle velocity. The approach never changes. He uses the entire field naturally. He’s starting to grow into more power. We also don’t have a single tool with him that’s below average. … He’s going to be a good defender. … What you’re most excited about with Grady Emerson is how elite his hit tools can be.”
Emerson, who lives in Argyle, attended Argyle High School until his senior season, when he transferred to Fort Worth Christian to play for Texas Rangers’ legend Rusty Greer. He is committed to the Texas Longhorns, although his path likely travels straight to the MLB as a top pick.
Dan O’Dowd, former general manager of the Colorado Rockies, said Emerson has the chance to be a multi-time All-Star on NBC’s broadcast. He compared him to Baltimore Orioles standout Jackson Holiday, who was taken No. 1 in the 2022 MLB draft, and said Emerson does everything well with a mature internal clock.
O’Dowd emphasized the difficulty of projecting high school hitters, as they face a different type of velocity on a consistent basis. He said that for the Rays to take a chance on Emerson, they must’ve been “really in love with the bat.”
“His bat tools are way advanced,” O’Dowd said. “He moves well when you watch him hit. He really gets his ace swing off on a consistent basis. Tracks the ball well. He’s got great strike zone awareness.”
Emerson, who is a four-time USA national team selection, credited Brandon Sherard, his hitting coach, for helping him make adjustments. Although his favorite player is Texas Rangers’ legend Ian Kinsler, he said he tries to model his game after current Ranger Corey Seager and Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford.
This story was originally published July 11, 2026 at 12:47 PM.
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