A Deep Dive on Grady Emerson, the Top Prep Player in the 2026 MLB Draft

[Jamie Cameron]

Image courtesy of © Brett Davis-Imagn Images

This week at Twins Daily, we’re continuing our series of deep dives into candidates for the third overall pick in the 2026 draft. After examining Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey and UCLA shortstop Roch Chowlowsky, we're turning our attention to the top high school player in the class. It’s a testament to Grady Emerson’s skills and tools as a baseball player that he hasn’t suffered from more prospect fatigue just three weeks away from being drafted. He’s been famous (in amateur baseball circles) since he was 15. Emerson has gone wire-to-wire as the consensus top high school player in the 2026 class, only behind Roch Cholowsky in terms of overall draft stock. I think you may even see his name atop industry rankings before the draft kicks off on July 11. Let’s dig into his profile.

Bio and Background
Emerson grew up in Argyle, Texas, around 40 miles northwest of Dallas. The University of Texas commit has a lengthy track record in amateur baseball. He was the first player to be selected to four consecutive US National Teams, rotating through every infield position. Additionally, he was named 2026 Gatorade National Player of the Year. It’s fair to say he’s got an impressive pedigree.

Emerson played the majority of his high school career at Argyle High School before transferring as a rising senior to Fort Worth Christian School, a smaller, private school (playing inferior competition) under the tutelage of former big-leaguer Rusty Greer. According to MaxPreps, Emerson hit .532/.648/.1.013 in 2026 with seven home runs, nine doubles, and four triples in 108 plate appearances. Emerson had a strong 2025 summer circuit, managing an .873 OPS in 143 plate appearances, while showing a combination of excellent contact skills and bat speed.

Scouting Report
Emerson hits from the left side of the plate. He sets up in an open stance, with a high hand set that will sit around shoulder height. It’s a quiet operation in general, with little additional or wasted movement loading his hands. His path to the ball is direct, giving the barrel of the bat plenty of time on plane. 

Emerson’s offensive profile starts with an excellent approach. He makes strong swing decisions, rarely expanding the zone at this early stage of his career. That, combined with his excellent bat-to-ball skills, makes him a brutal at-bat for pitchers. While Emerson’s profile is hit over power for now, that’s selling his bat speed short, for me. It’s likely 20-25 home run power as a pro. This aspect of his game is a little overlooked, as he rarely (if ever) sells out for power in games. Instead, he sprays line drives all over the field.

Defensively, Emerson is a strong bet to stick at shortstop. He has a plus arm and can make all the throws the position requires. Additionally, there’s a good internal clock, and he looks equally comfortable ranging to either side of his body or charging the ball, maintaining a level of fluidity and body control that bodes well for his chances of sticking at short. Emerson has posted plenty of plus run times, too. He’s either a 60 runner or a 55 in terms of speed, depending on how you think his frame will develop in the coming years.

Shifting Dynamics at the Top of the Draft
How should we think of Emerson as part of the consensus top three in this draft? How does he stack up against Roch Cholowsky and Vahn Lackey? What do we know about the draft tendencies of the teams picking above the Twins?

Emerson has been the number two player in this draft since day one. He’s never really been under threat from another prep player. He’s also closing the gap at the top of the board, getting closer to Cholowsky. The most logical comparison to make here is between Emerson and Cholowsky, as they play the same position. The consensus in the industry seems to be that Emerson is a better player at the same stage than Cholowsky (who was ranked 35th on our board as a high schooler ahead of the 2023 draft). If you’re the White Sox, do you take a risk on Emerson’s upside, or go with the greater certainty Cholowsky offers?

It’s notable that both the White Sox and Twins had interest in drafting Cholowsky out of high school. It’s also worth considering how the Rays factor in at the top of the first round. The Rays took prep players with four of their first five selections in 2025, and three of their first four selections in 2024. In general, they seem to favor left-handed-hitting high school bats (Theo Gillen, Nathan Flewelling, Cooper Flemming, to name a few) and have a strong track record of developing them.

Given industry speculation around the White Sox' consideration of Emerson and the Rays' recent track record, it feels less likely Emerson will be on the board at three than it was a month ago. The Twins have done (and will continue to do) extensive work on a number of players under consideration at three. In our final installment of this series, we’ll consider some dark horse candidates. For what it’s worth, I remain confident it’ll be one of Cholowsky, Emerson, or Lackey.

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[thelanges5]

I hope they stick with one of the consensus top three and then focus on pitching from there. 

[tony&rodney]

No reason to be overly concerned about the pick because it is a win-win-win situation regarding the first three players most likely in this draft. The luck will come in whether the players remain healthy and develop their skills in a timely fashion to the level required for success in MLB.

Jamie, thank you for these level-headed articles.

[Dman]

Jamie,  love your draft coverage!  I'd be happy with any of the those three.  Hopefully they find some good pitching to go along with the hitter they pick.

  I don't know if you have any clout with the FO, but can someone put a bug in Tom's ear about spending to the 5% overage?  That would give this team another 800,000 to play with which could help grab talent that falls down the board.  I believe he said he was willing to spend when it made sense and I can't think of better of place to spend 800,000 than in search of cheap, controllable young talent.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

Jamie, Your articles are informative and very detailed. While it is difficult to predict the future, that is the task which the MLB draft requires.  It is true that history does repeat itself. Some of the variables which exist in deciding which player to select are  predictable and some are just plain luck (injuries, illnesses, girlfriends, life challenges outside of baseball). It's almost like being in combat. Sometimes the best soldiers do not survive due to no fault of their own. 

[Jamie Cameron]

19 minutes ago, Dman said:

Jamie,  love your draft coverage!  I'd be happy with any of the those three.  Hopefully they find some good pitching to go along with the hitter they pick.

  I don't know if you have any clout with the FO, but can someone put a bug in Tom's ear about spending to the 5% overage?  That would give this team another 800,000 to play with which could help grab talent that falls down the board.  I believe he said he was willing to spend when it made sense and I can't think of better of place to spend 800,000 than in search of cheap, controllable young talent.

That is a great question and something I wondered about too. Maybe. It makes so much sense.

[DataNerd]

51 minutes ago, Dman said:

I don't know if you have any clout with the FO, but can someone put a bug in Tom's ear about spending to the 5% overage?  That would give this team another 800,000 to play with which could help grab talent that falls down the board.  I believe he said he was willing to spend when it made sense and I can't think of better of place to spend 800,000 than in search of cheap, controllable young talent.

If I was the GM, I would be going to the Pohlad's and telling them they can remove the overage from the next year's MLB salary and spending it every year.  It's probably the highest ROI that you can get in today's game in spending, except with INTL spending which is also capped.

One way is to just take your 11th round pick (150k) and spend it all on a HS guy (950k), which is about a 3rd round value.  To put this in WAR terms, some modeling I did had Ellwanger as 1.5 WAR when drafted, while Kolten Smith was 0.5 WAR, 1M vs 200k, and the modeling is mostly just using draft pick and signing bonus.  That is about an order of magnitude more value than you are getting in FA.

[Mike Sixel]

2 hours ago, DataNerd said:

If I was the GM, I would be going to the Pohlad's and telling them they can remove the overage from the next year's MLB salary and spending it every year.  It's probably the highest ROI that you can get in today's game in spending, except with INTL spending which is also capped.

One way is to just take your 11th round pick (150k) and spend it all on a HS guy (950k), which is about a 3rd round value.  To put this in WAR terms, some modeling I did had Ellwanger as 1.5 WAR when drafted, while Kolten Smith was 0.5 WAR, 1M vs 200k, and the modeling is mostly just using draft pick and signing bonus.  That is about an order of magnitude more value than you are getting in FA.

Truth. But in the past, they have utterly refused to do this. 

I'm good with any of the big three or Flora, but I prefer the pitcher. Name the starters they've drafted and turned into even number three starters in the last seven years.... Heck, babe the hitters that have take excelled.... There's something wrong in the system....

[JADBP]

1 hour ago, Mike Sixel said:

Truth. But in the past, they have utterly refused to do this. 

I'm good with any of the big three or Flora, but I prefer the pitcher. Name the starters they've drafted and turned into even number three starters in the last seven years.... Heck, babe the hitters that have take excelled.... There's something wrong in the system....

You’re right.   The system was great at developing players back with TK.  Gardy came in with many great, well-trained rising players.  Not sure that Gardy did anything or who/ what happened, but the player development has suffered since.  The only thing I can point to is a string of Gardenhire hires.  Is that it?  Who tore down TK’s system?  Or did TK’s system die of old age  or irrelevance?  Have the training tools, methods, skills changed that much?  Because somewhere over the last 20-25 years, we lost it.  

[gman]

With only 2 weeks until the draft, I'd set my preferred draft order. With the time it take's to develop a catcher and a pitcher, I'd lean towards the shortstops.  Chowlosky "could" reach the majors the second half of next year, while I think Emerson would take at least 2 years longer.

[Mike Sixel]

2 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

Truth. But in the past, they have utterly refused to do this. 

I'm good with any of the big three or Flora, but I prefer the pitcher. Name the starters they've drafted and turned into even number three starters in the last seven years.... Heck, babe the hitters that have take excelled.... There's something wrong in the system....

There is also something wrong with autocorrect on my phone :)