Video: Is Grady Emerson A No-Doubt Pick At #3 For The Twins?

[Destination The Show]

One of Roch Cholowsky, Vahn Lackey, or Grady Emerson will land in the Twins' lap with the third overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft. If it's Grady Emerson, how much of a no-brainer selection is he for the Twins, and how does he fit with other top prep picks the Twins have taken in the first round in previous seasons?

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[Coach JT]

They need pitching and more pitching . 

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

Grady Emerson is the pick if he is available 100%.  He is exactly the type of player the Twins have historically targeted and he has the highest ceiling of anyone since 2023.   Things can change but this is the current outlook. 

1.  White Sox -  50/50 on Cholowsky or Emerson  

2. Rays -  They appear to prefer Vahn over Emerson   

I personally think you are in good shape with either 3 of these picks.   However my board would be 

1A. Emerson

1B. Cholowsky

3. Vahn 

In either case you are getting a very good prospect and really they are all very similar in tier level.  Cholowsky is an extremely polished player.  He is the best SS to come out of college since Tulowitzki.  He has had extremely high consistent performance.  You have an extremely high floor on Cholowsky. 

Emerson -  He has a slightly higher ceiling than Cholowsky and some view as a better hit tool than Cholowsky.  He has consistently been viewed very similarly to Bobby Witt Jr. 

Vahn - the best catching prospect to come through the draft since Rutschman.   Good Hit tool, good defense and gets better every year.   

I think you are really splitting hairs on who will be better - I think its also why the White Sox appear to be 50/50 on Cholowsky or Emerson - go with the safer pick with still a very high ceiling, or go with the player who could have the highest ceiling of them all in Emerson.  I said even when we got the pick I thought Emerson may fall to the Twins - these drafts are weird.  As of right now - I still think that is the most likely outcome based on what we know.  The real question becomes if its Cholowsky and Vahn does the rays still go Vahn?  Its hard to say.  We will know here in a few days.