ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 14: 2026 prep class prospect Grady Emerson bats between rounds of the Home Run Derby at Truist Park on July 14, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Rays draft top high school shortstop Emerson with 2nd pick

·
Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Follow the 2026 MLB Draft with theScore's live tracker to see all picks as they happen.

The Tampa Bay Rays selected prep shortstop Grady Emerson with the second pick in the 2026 MLB Draft on Saturday.

Emerson, 18, entered the draft as the top high school player after completing his senior year at Fort Worth Christian High School, where former big-leaguer Rusty Greer served as the school's baseball manager.

Gatorade's High School Player of the Year has drawn comparisons to fellow Texan Bobby Witt Jr. thanks to his elite tools and advanced skills.

Emerson slashed .532/.648/1.013 with seven home runs, 50 RBIs, 31 steals, and a .992 fielding percentage during his senior year.

XRedditFacebookWhatsAppEmailSMS
MORE STORIES