ST. PETERSBURG — Eighteen-year-old shortstop Grady Emerson, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, signed a record-breaking $9.75 million deal with the Tampa Bay Rays and visited Tropicana Field with his family Saturday as the franchise introduced its newest cornerstone prospect.
“It’s been a lot, I’ll say that, but I’ve enjoyed every moment of it,” Emerson said from the Rays’ dugout Saturday afternoon. “Getting to the complex for a couple days, starting that journey and meeting everybody, it’s been everything I could have imagined. I’m super blessed.”
Emerson, ranked atop MLB Pipeline’s list of top players in this year’s draft class, heard his name called two weeks ago while sitting inside Marty B’s restaurant in Bartonville, Texas. He received a FaceTime call that weekend from franchise icon Evan Longoria, then flew to New York, where he was recognized at the 2026 ESPY Awards as Gatorade’s top high school male athlete of the year. He officially signed Wednesday and began working out at Tampa Bay’s Spring Training facility in Port Charlotte, Fla.
The Rays rolled out a full welcome Saturday. Emerson — wearing a No. 2 Rays jersey with his name on it — threw out a ceremonial first pitch to outfielder Jonny DeLuca before the game against the Guardians. He and his parents, Brandon and Deanna, and 12-year-old brother Maddox met managing partner Patrick Zalupski, chief executive officer Ken Babby, manager Kevin Cash and numerous players and coaches during batting practice. Junior Caminero signed the No. 13 Caminero shirt and Devil Rays cap Maddox was wearing.
“Excited for us. Excited for him [and] all the guys that worked so hard that we were able to get a guy that we really think is going to be a good player,” Cash said.
Emerson has publicly set a goal of reaching the majors by age 20 — during the 2028 season. Amateur scouting director Chuck Ricci offered a measured take after Day 1 of the draft: “I think he’ll be up here when he’s ready.”
Emerson made no apologies for the ambitious timeline. “I think that’s what you should do if you’re a high-level player and you want a lot out of yourself. I think the expectations are there,” he said. “Now, obviously, sometimes things don’t work out the way you wanted to, but at the end of the day, it’s just setting those expectations high, chasing them day in and day out, making sure you’re doing everything you can.”
Asked what it will take to get there, Emerson focused on his mental approach rather than his elite hitting ability or highly regarded defensive work. “Obviously, baseball is a kids’ game, and I’m very blessed to play that at a very high level now,” he said. “So it’s just being able to trust the process, know that there’s going to be failures and rely on the people around me to help get there.”
Emerson will continue working out at the Rays’ complex and could receive a late-season cameo with Single-A Charleston, a path the organization used in 2024 with fellow first-round Texas high school pick Theo Gillen, now Tampa Bay’s top-ranked prospect.
“I’ve been dying to get there. I haven’t played since May, and I’m like, ‘Man, I’ve been itching,’” Emerson said, smiling. “They’re doing a good job keeping me slow, making sure I’m taking the right steps and not trying to rush into things. But yeah, I’ve been itching to get out there.”