​The White Sox will begin the 2026 MLB draft by selecting No. 1 overall at noon CT on Saturday, poised to choose from three highly coveted prospects: UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky, Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey, and Fort Worth Christian (Texas) High School shortstop Grady Emerson. As anticipation builds for Chicago’s third-ever No. 1 overall pick, we’re taking a closer look at each candidate to better understand the options and what they could bring to a franchise intent on rebuilding around premium athletes with ceiling to impact the game on both sides of the ball.
If the White Sox place their bets on upside, Grady Emerson would become the No. 1 pick. Emerson has long been regarded as the top high school talent in the class, and his combination of advanced hitting instincts, defensive versatility, and physical projection makes him one of the draft’s most tantalizing raw materials. While Cholowsky entered the spring as the consensus favorite to go first, Emerson steadily closed the gap over the season with a left-handed bat that projects power and a smooth, instinctual feel for the game at shortstop. Scouts repeatedly point to his athleticism as a defining characteristic, suggesting he could develop into a five-tool contributor who can impact the lineup and the defense at a premium position.
Chicago’s decision on Saturday will hinge on whether teams believe Emerson’s ceiling justifies investing in him at the highest level. The White Sox have shown a proclivity for players who blend athleticism with defensive acumen and the ability to influence play on both sides of the ball. Emerson fits that mold to a tee. He brings more than a high school resume; he carries a track record of notable performance against strong competition on the showcase circuit and further refinements under the tutelage of a coach with major-league pedigree.
The path Emerson carved through the prep ranks is underscored by his early and ongoing exposure to national-caliber competition. The Texas standout has flourished under the eye of Rusty Greer, a former major leaguer who helped tailor Emerson’s approach at Fort Worth Christian and later at Texas Christian University. Emerson’s move to TCU specifically to work with Greer reflects a commitment to refining his game at the highest levels of amateur baseball, a commitment that scouts say translates into a more complete projection for the next level.
International experience also bolsters Emerson’s profile. Over the past four years, he represented Team USA in global competition, culminating in a spot on the 2025 All-World Team. Competing against top talent from around the world has only sharpened his approach and reinforced his reputation as one of the most polished prep prospects entering the 2026 draft. His résumé includes the kind of exposure and success that teams typically value when projecting a high school star to the professional ranks.
In the year leading up to the draft, Emerson’s momentum has grown steadily. He challenged Cholowsky for the mantle of top prospect, with many clubs valuing his youth and long-term potential as the highest ceiling in the class. MLB insiders like Jim Callis have publicly noted Emerson as their preferred pick, while others, including draft analyst Keith Law, have reported that the White Sox scouting staff is leaning toward Emerson as the top selection. The combination of a 6-foot-2, 180-pound frame, a left-handed swing with significant power potential, and an advanced approach at the plate makes Emerson a compelling choice for an organization that prioritizes athleticism and positional premium defense.
If Chicago ultimately selects Emerson, it would send a clear signal about the franchise’s strategic direction: a bet on a prodigious athlete with a refined hit tool, the ability to stay at shortstop defensively, and the potential to develop into a cornerstone player who can drive wins across multiple facets of the game. The decision will hinge on how the White Sox weigh the immediate impact against the long-term ceiling, but Emerson’s profile aligns closely with a modern blueprint for success in today’s draft landscape.
As the countdown to the draft continues, the case for Emerson rests on a blend of track record, present tools, and the near-term potential to become one of the game’s premier players. If the White Sox roll the dice on upside and youth with a high ceiling, Emerson represents a tantalizing bet: a polished prep star with elite athleticism, the capacity to remain at shortstop, and the likelihood of maturing into a game-changing contributor on both sides of the ball. The other two candidates—Cholowsky and Lackey—present their own compelling cases, but Emerson’s combination of advanced hitting ability, positional projection, and international pedigree makes him a standout option in the eyes of many evaluators and could very well become Chicago’s franchise-defining selection in 2026.