Fort Worth Christian head coach and Texas Rangers legend Rusty Greer (left) and Grady Emerson, the nation’s top high school baseball prospect (right), are photographed at baseball practice at Fort Worth Christian School in North Richland Hills, Texas, Monday, Feb. 23, 2026.
Bob Booth
Special to the Star-Telegram
NORTH RICHLAND HILLS
During the summer, Grady Emerson, the nation’s top high school baseball player in the class of 2026, met with Texas Rangers’ legend Rusty Greer.
At the time, Emerson was attending Argyle High School and was considering a transfer. The upcoming baseball season would be an important one for Emerson, a Texas pledge and the projected No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft behind UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky.
Greer, the head coach of Fort Worth Christian and a nine-year MLB veteran, can relate to and guide Emerson in ways few coaches can.
Fort Worth Christian head baseball coach Rusty Greer watches baseball practice at Fort Worth Christian School in North Richland Hills, Texas, Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
“We wanted to talk about if we were willing to make the long drives,” Emerson said. “The late nights and early mornings. Just to come to [Fort Worth Christian] and play for Rusty.”
After the meeting, Emerson knew transferring to Fort Worth Christian was the right call. With his professional future on the horizon, he put his trust in Greer.
Fort Worth Christian head baseball coach Rusty Greer talks to players at the mound during baseball practice at Fort Worth Christian School in North Richland Hills, Texas, Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
“It was nothing against Argyle,” Emerson said. “I absolutely love the people there. A bunch of my friends are there. But I’ve known Rusty Greer since I was nine years old. He has been a mentor of mine.”
Inside the Greer-Emerson mentorship
Emerson, a shortstop with a left-handed swing, has already refined his game to a level far beyond his age, and, according to MLB.com, scouts “have a difficult time finding any flaws.”
Emerson said there is one key thing Greer can help him with: The mental aspect of the game.
Fort Worth Christian head coach Rusty Greer talks to short stop Grady Emerson and second baseman Griffin Carney during baseball practice at Fort Worth Christian School in North Richland Hills, Texas, Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
That involves handling the ups and downs of the sport, which includes the inevitable slump.
“He played at the highest level against the best players,” Emerson said. “And he had a really successful career. But he did have his struggles as well. Every baseball player does.”
Rangers Rusty Greer (right) is congratulated by Rafael Palmeiro (left) after Greer scored in the 4th inning of the Texas Rangers vs the Oakland A’s game at the Ballpark in Arlington, Thursday, March 11, 2002, in Arlington,Texas. (Star-Telegram/Ron Jenkins) Ron Jenkins Fort Worth Star Telegram
Some coaches say there’s always a fix, whether that’s a change in mechanics or a certain approach at the plate. For a proven player like Emerson, however, his swing doesn’t need to be fixed, and Greer knows that.
Emerson said Greer’s best advice is to keep things simple while having an even-keeled mindset. He focuses on timing and pitch selection while trusting his swing and accepting that mistakes are part of the game.
“And he builds that confidence in me,” Emerson said. “Even if I’m two for ten, I go up there with confidence every time at the plate.”
Fort Worth Christian short stop Grady Emerson takes a cut in the batting cage during baseball practice at Fort Worth Christian School in North Richland Hills, Texas, Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
Emerson said Greer also prepares him for life as a professional, which includes advice on how to approach being a potential top draft pick.
Although Greer wasn’t a high-level selection himself, he does have a relationship with a former Colleyville Heritage star and the No. 2 pick in the 2019 MLB Draft: Two-time All-Star Bobby Witt Jr.
Colleyville Heritage shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. The Panthers defeat Corsicana 2-1 in the 5A state semifinals at Dell Diamond, Thursday, June 6, 2019. FortWorth
The Witt-Greer bond goes back to 1995, when Bobby Witt Sr. and Greer were part of the Texas Rangers organization.
“The Witts and the Greers are really, really, good friends,” Greer said. “My son and Bobby Jr. are best friends.”
Witt Sr. was picked third in the 1985 MLB Draft. So, it’s safe to say the family has extensive experience with the process. Emerson enters the draft in a near identical situation to Bobby Witt Jr.’s in 2019.
Bobby Witt Jr., right, embraces his father, Bobby Witt, shortly after he was selected Monday by the Royals with the second overall pick in the MLB draft. Jeff Wilson Star-Telegram
“I got to watch all that unfold in 2019 when Bobby was going through this,” Greer said. “So, I actually relied on some of that knowledge. … And so, I’ve just tried to help [Emerson] navigate these waters as the season and practices progress.”
Building the nation’s top prospect
From Little League to youth sports, it’s a long journey to build yourself into the top prep prospect nationwide. Emerson emphasized that strong support system is important.
“From a young age, I had my parents and my family to help take me to the batting cages or go to the field and work,” Emerson said. “I’ve also been blessed to be around such great coaches. … I learned from a young age the dedication it takes to be a great player. I think that’s the biggest thing that kind of led me in the right direction.”
Fort Worth Christian short stop Grady Emerson picks up an infield grounder during baseball practice at Fort Worth Christian School in North Richland Hills, Texas, Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
Emerson’s talent has given him many opportunities, including a four-year stint with USA Baseball. He played on the 15U national team in 2022 and 2023, and on the 18U team in 2024 and 2025.
He made the most of the experience, posting a .381 average in 2024 and a .346 average in 2025.
Emerson said playing for USA Baseball was “a huge blessing in my life. Because not only does it teach you to grow up as a kid on the field, it teaches you how to grow up off the field.”
Acclimating to Fort Worth Christian
Due to the USA Baseball schedule, Emerson arrived at Fort Worth Christian on Sept. 17. He had to build chemistry and relationships with a new team quickly.
And for his teammates, having the top prep prospect in the nation join the squad was a unique experience. But it worked out perfectly, according to Greer.
“He opened his arms to the players,” Greer said. “Players opened their arms to him. It’s just been a nice, easy transition, and I think that says a lot about the person in general.”
Fort Worth Christian head baseball coach Rusty Greer explains some strategy to players during baseball practice at Fort Worth Christian School in North Richland Hills, Texas, Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
Emerson said establishing that he’s just another teammate made the process easy. And through time, he built “lifelong friendships.”
“Everybody was a little intimidated at first,” Emerson said. “It’s just one of those things where I don’t know anybody, and they don’t know me as well. And from the get-go, I was showing my personality.
Fort Worth Christian baseball players warm up before baseball practice at Fort Worth Christian School in North Richland Hills, Texas, Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
“I’m a very talkative person. I want to have those great connections and those great relationships, so that when we get into the mud later in the season, I want to be able to really trust them, like they can put trust in me.”
Fort Worth Christian has started the season 10-1 as of Wednesday. TAPPS Division II District I play begins on March 12.
Life beyond baseball
While his talents are evident, there is more to Emerson than what he showcases on the field.
He called his parents his role models and said he prioritizes spending time with family while he’s away from baseball. One activity he particularly enjoys is skeet shooting.
Fort Worth Christian short stop Grady Emerson during baseball practice at Fort Worth Christian School in North Richland Hills, Texas, Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
“Me and my brother go out there with my dad,” Emerson said. “We got our new 12-gauges. It’s a nice, peaceful thing to do. Nobody around us – just being able to go shoot some skeets.”
Other than that, Emerson takes time to reconnect with friends from Argyle. Whether it’s over a game of basketball or just getting together to hang out, he said he cherishes the time.
Fort Worth Christian short stop Grady Emerson during baseball practice at Fort Worth Christian School in North Richland Hills, Texas, Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
But to Emerson, one thing stands above his hobbies, friends, even baseball: His faith.
He is a devout Christian and stays grounded through weekly Bible studies. Emerson also gets to study the Bible and attend chapel as a student at Fort Worth Christian.
“Baseball is going to end one day,” he said. “God’s calling isn’t for me to be the best baseball player. It’s being a great person first.
“If you look in the Bible, there’s nothing about being the most famous person and the person with the most money. Like, the biggest thing is to love everyone like God loves us, and to spread that kindness throughout the world. I think that’s my biggest goal for my life.”
Preparing for the future
Handling the pressure of being the top high school baseball player in the country can be intimidating. But Emerson will continue to rely on his support system as he prepares for what’s next.
“Pressure, for me, is a blessing,” Emerson said. “Everybody wants to be in that position where you have that pressure on you. For me, I just lean on the people that I love and that I care about.”
Emerson also said he’ll look to emulate Derek Jeter, who he called his favorite player.
Fort Worth Christian short stop Grady Emerson backhands a ground ball during baseball practice at Fort Worth Christian School in North Richland Hills, Texas, Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
“He did some incredible things, but not only that, it’s just the way he went about it,” Emerson said. “He’s very confident. But he’s not going to be the one running his mouth. He’s hustling every single play. Diving for the baseball. I think the grittiness he brought to a team was amazing.”
According to teammate Jaxon Casselberry, Emerson already has those Jeter-esque leadership qualities.
“He is going to lift you up,” Casselberry said. “But he is also going to hold you accountable for all the decisions you make. I think that character will take him a long way.”
Fort Worth Christian short stop Grady Emerson puts the soft touch on a ball to second base during baseball practice at Fort Worth Christian School in North Richland Hills, Texas, Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
With just over five months until the MLB Draft, professional or college baseball is approaching fast.
At this point in his progression, scouts don’t think there is much he can do to improve his game. But Emerson is confident he can keep stacking good days.
“I just want to prove that I’m still growing,” Emerson said. “Getting a little bit stronger and faster day in and day out.”
Fort Worth Christian short stop Grady Emerson during baseball practice at Fort Worth Christian School in North Richland Hills, Texas, Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
This story was originally published February 26, 2026 at 5:00 AM.
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Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Charles Baggarly is a high school sports editor and reporter for the Fort Worth Star Telegram. He graduated from TCU in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and served as TCU 360’s sports editor. Connect with Charles on Twitter or via email.