Rays Choose Grady Emerson as Second Overall Draft Pick

WHO:

MLB.com - Grady Emerson, a shortstop from Fort Worth Christian School, was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays.

MLB.com - Chuck Ricci, amateur scouting director for the Rays, discussed the team's draft strategy.

WHAT:

MLB.com - The Rays selected Grady Emerson with the No. 2 overall pick, marking their highest selection since back-to-back No. 1 overall picks in 2007 and 2008.

MLB.com - Chuck Ricci stated, "We are adding a player with a premium hit tool and an excellent amateur pedigree. Grady's work ethic and makeup are a perfect fit with our already strong culture."

MLB.com - Emerson is projected to have the potential to hit 25 home runs in the Majors due to his bat speed and ability to barrel up the ball.

MLB.com - Emerson finished second in the 2025 High School Home Run Derby at Truist Park.

MLB.com - Grady Emerson was named the 2026 Gatorade Player of the Year for Texas and also the National Gatorade Player of the Year.

MLB.com - Emerson played for Team USA’s 15U squad in 2022 and 2023, and its 18U team in 2024 and 2025, winning three gold medals and being named an All-World third baseman in 2025.

MLB.com - During his senior year at Fort Worth Christian, Emerson posted a .532/.648/1.013 slash line with seven home runs and 21 steals.

MLB.com - Emerson was named a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award, becoming only the second high school player since 1948 to be nominated for the award.

MLB.com - The Rays had four more picks slated for Day 1: No. 33, 49, 85, and 113.

MLB.com - The No. 2 overall pick in this year’s Draft came with an assigned slot value of $10,507,000, part of the Rays’ overall bonus pool of $19,009,300, which is the second-largest pool this year.

MLB.com - The Rays selected Grady Emerson with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft.

MLB.com - Emerson was ranked as the top prospect by MLB Pipeline.

MLB.com - The assigned slot value for the No. 2 overall pick was $10,507,000, part of the Rays' overall bonus pool of $19,009,300.

RotoWire - The Rays selected Emerson with the second overall pick in the 2026 First-Year Player Draft.

WHERE:

MLB.com - The selection took place at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.

MLB.com - Emerson is from Fort Worth, Texas.

WHEN:

MLB.com - The 2026 MLB Draft occurred on July 11 and July 12, 2026.

WHY:

MLB.com - The Rays aimed to select the best available player with the highest ceiling, which they believed Emerson represented.

MLB.com - Ricci stated that Emerson's work ethic and makeup fit well with the Rays' culture.

HOW:

MLB.com - The Rays conducted extensive meetings with their top draft targets, including Emerson, and gathered information from their coaches to prepare for the draft.

MLB.com - The Rays were carefully considering four players in the hours leading up to the Draft: Emerson, UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky, Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey, and UC Santa Barbara right-hander Jackson Flora.

MLB.com - The Rays conducted meetings with their top draft targets, including Emerson, and gathered information from their coaches to prepare for the draft.

The Rays have made a significant move by selecting Grady Emerson with the No. 2 overall pick, their highest selection since they had back-to-back No. 1 picks in 2007 and 2008. Chuck Ricci praised Emerson, highlighting his premium hit tool, excellent amateur pedigree, and strong work ethic as a perfect fit for the team's culture. Emerson, who finished second in the 2025 High School Home Run Derby at Truist Park, is projected to have the potential to hit 25 home runs in the Majors thanks to his impressive bat speed and ability to make solid contact.