FORT WORTH, Texas KWTX) — Grady Emerson, an 18-year-old shortstop and recent graduate of Fort Worth Christian, was named the No. 1 overall draft prospect by MLB Pipeline on July 2. The Chicago White Sox hold the first overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft.
Emerson, the 2026 National Gatorade Player of the Year, has been considered a consensus top prep player since his freshman year. As a senior, he hit .508 with eight home runs and 56 RBIs.
From Argyle to Fort Worth Christian
Emerson began his high school career at Argyle before transferring to Fort Worth Christian ahead of his senior season to play under head coach Rusty Greer, a former Texas Rangers outfielder who played in Major League Baseball from 1994 to 2002. Emerson said he had known Greer since he was 9 years old and attended his baseball camps.
“I told my mom I was like that would be a really cool senior year getting to play for one of my childhood mentors. So, we made the move, and it’s been nothing short of amazing,” Emerson said.
Fort Worth Christian reached the TAPPS Division II state championship game this past season but fell 4-3 to Lutheran South Academy.
Emerson on realizing his potential
Emerson said he was around 13 years old when he began to understand his potential.
“They came out with the initial rankings of our class, and I was third in the country, and it was an eye-opening moment,” Emerson said. “It was like ‘oh my, this is really, really cool. I’m one of the best in the country. People are recognizing me as that, and I have to keep working harder to stay where I’m at and get better.”
He said the experience of being discussed alongside other high-profile prospects has taken adjustment.
“I always used to admire Bobby Witt Jr. and I always used to check the Perfect Game rankings and the All-American games like who is the best player in high school and now that it’s me, it’s like oh, you hear people talking about it like I was with the Max Clarks and the Bobby Witts of the world,” Emerson said.
Emerson’s name has been compared to former Colleyville Heritage star Bobby Witt Jr. in terms of D-FW prospects. Most mock drafts had Emerson going No. 2 before some outlets began projecting him as the No. 1 overall pick.
What sets him apart
Emerson credited his physical development and attention to detail as key factors in his rise. He said he put on 15 pounds of muscle this past offseason and focused on speed and strength training.
“As a player, I just think it’s my hunger and my drive for everything in the game, whether it’s off the field stuff — eating, trying to get bigger in the weight room, working on my speed — or on the field focusing on the fine little details,” Emerson said. “I’m always wanting to get better. I’m never satisfied with where I’m at.”
Greer on coaching Emerson
Greer said Emerson’s intangibles stand out as much as his on-field ability.
“He makes a coach’s job easy. Obviously, he’s skilled on the field but his aptitude as a player, his desire as a player, and his competitiveness as a player — I think those are things that go overlooked because of his ability skill-wise on the field,” Greer said. “But when you take a player like him, skill plus all the intangibles, it makes it fun to coach.”
Greer said he first noticed those qualities when Emerson attended his camps at age 10.
“He loves to practice, he loves to work, he loves to get better,” Greer said.
Greer said his professional background has shaped how he has prepared Emerson for the next level.
“With my background understanding the professional side of it, understanding how scouting works, what they need to see — it’s been interesting to see. It’s been fun,” Greer said.
Looking ahead
Emerson said his long-term goals include winning a World Series, earning Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards, and playing in the MLB for an extended career. He said he views the attention surrounding the draft as a positive.
“I think of it more as a blessing than anything,” Emerson said. “The older I got, the more me and my family sat down and talked about it — we realized it’s more of God’s blessing.”
His advice to young players: “Just have fun and enjoy it. Work every single day on and off the field to get better. And nothing is too far out of reach.”
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