The Tampa Bay Rays selected shortstop Grady Emerson with the second overall pick in Saturday's MLB Draft. Emerson, out of Fort Worth Christian School in North Richland Hills, Texas, becomes the first high school player taken this year.

Emerson had been projected as the top overall prospect for most of the draft cycle before eventual No. 1 pick Roch Cholowsky surged late in the process. Emerson instead joins an organization known for its strong player development track record.

The left-handed hitter closed his prep career with a .532/.648/1.013 line, adding seven home runs, 50 RBIs and 31 stolen bases. He became just the second high schooler in 48 years to earn a Golden Spikes Award nomination, joining Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., whom Emerson has trained with and considers a mentor.

Emerson is widely viewed as the best pure hitter in this year's class, combining an advanced approach with elite contact skills. He became the first player to appear on multiple USA Baseball U-15 and U-18 national teams.

Keith Law of The Athletic offered a comparison for Emerson's offensive profile.

"(T)he descriptions I hear from scouts and execs make it sound like they're hoping he's the next Kevin McGonigle," wrote Law. "And maybe he is: Emerson does hit, making contact at a reasonably high clip last summer at showcases (13.3 percent strikeout rate, 23.3 percent whiff rate), while showing fringe-average power now that projects to above-average at his peak."

Defensively, evaluators believe Emerson can play shortstop, citing soft hands, a plus arm and strong instincts to go with above-average speed. He finished as runner-up in last year's high school home run derby at Truist Park during MLB All-Star weekend.

Emerson grew up a Texas Rangers fan and modeled his game after former second baseman Ian Kinsler.