The White Sox kick off the 2026 MLB draft by making the No. 1 overall selection at noon CT on Saturday, and will choose among three plum prospects: UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky, Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey and shortstop Grady Emerson from Fort Worth Christian (Texas) H.S. We’re digging deeper into all three players in anticipation of the third No. 1 overall pick in White Sox history.
If the White Sox bet on the upside, they will select Fort Worth Christian (Texas) H.S. prep shortstop Grady Emerson with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 MLB draft.
Long viewed as the top high school player in the class, Emerson gives Chicago one of the highest ceilings in the draft. While UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky entered the spring as the consensus favorite to go first overall, Emerson steadily closed the gap throughout the season with his advanced left-handed bat, smooth actions at shortstop and the type of athletic projection scouts dream about.
Chicago is entering Saturday’s big day connected to several legitimate candidates for the top pick, but ultimately may double down on the player many evaluators believe will emerge as the best talent in the class. Emerson combines an advanced feel for hitting with the defensive ability to remain at shortstop, giving the White Sox another premium athlete to build around.
For an organization prioritizing athleticism, premium defensive positions and players capable of impacting the game on both sides of the ball, Emerson fits the mold. Unlike many prep hitters, he arrives with one of the longest and most impressive high school track records in the country, consistently producing against elite competition on the showcase circuit while continuing to develop under the tutelage of his high school coach, former major-leaguer Rusty Greer. The longtime Texas Ranger helped shape one of the nation’s most polished prep players, giving Emerson daily instruction from someone who had already succeeded at the highest level. Emerson transferred to Texas Christian specifically to work with Greer.
Over the past four years, Emerson also represented Team USA on the international stage, culminating in a selection to the 2025 All-World Team. Competing against many of the top amateur players in the world only strengthened Emerson’s reputation as one of the most polished prep prospects in the 2026 draft.
And as the draft approaches, momentum behind Emerson continues to build. The prep standout spent much of the year challenging Cholowsky for the distinction of the top prospect in the draft, with many clubs believing his youth and long-term projection gave him the highest ceiling available. MLB’s Jim Callis favors Emerson as the first pick, while draft guru Keith Law reports that the White Sox scouting group is pushing for Emerson as the pick.
The 6´2´´, 180-pound, left-handed hitter capped his senior season by slashing .532/.648/1.013 with seven home runs, 31 stolen bases and 50 RBIs, while leading Fort Worth Christian to a runner-up finish in the Texas state championship. He also earned Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year honors, validating his place among the nation’s elite prep prospects.
What separates Emerson is the combination of present ability and future projection. His left-handed swing is among the cleanest in the draft, producing consistent hard contact to all fields while showing the strike-zone discipline and barrel control typically associated with much older hitters. Scouts believe additional strength could unlock even more power, giving him a chance to become a middle-of-the-order bat without sacrificing the hit tool that makes him so appealing.
Defensively, Emerson has all the tools to remain at shortstop. His smooth footwork, soft hands, strong arm and advanced instincts give scouts confidence that he can stay on the left side of the infield. While he isn’t expected to be a prolific base stealer as a professional, his athleticism and feel for the game allow him to play faster than his raw speed suggests.
Emerson would join an emerging young core that already includes Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, Braden Montgomery, Noah Schultz and Grant Taylor, giving Chicago another premium talent with the potential to anchor the organization for years to come. Colson has long been rumored to be taking his size over to third base at some point, so there’s no excessive duplication going on by picking Emerson.
Because he’s entering professional baseball straight out of high school, Emerson’s development timeline will likely be longer than that of an advanced college player. Still, his advanced approach at the plate and polished defensive game have some evaluators believing he could move more quickly than the typical prep prospect. He would likely still make his pro debut this summer in Kannapolis, but his stop there could be extremely brief.
Emerson may require more patience than some of the other candidates for the top pick, but few players in the 2026 draft offer the same combination of athleticism, polish, and long-term upside.