The 2026 Major League Baseball Draft is scheduled for this Saturday and Sunday, bringing attention to a group of high school athletes from the Dallas-Fort Worth region who are preparing to learn their professional futures. The area is represented by a diverse field of prospects, ranging from potential top-tier selections to those projected for later rounds.
Shortstop Grady Emerson of Fort Worth Christian is widely considered the top overall prospect in the draft. A former Argyle student who transferred to Fort Worth Christian before his senior year to play under former Texas Ranger Rusty Greer, Emerson was named the 2026 National Gatorade Player of the Year. He nearly led his team to the TAPPS Division II state championship last season and hit .508 with eight home runs and 56 runs batted in during his senior campaign. While earlier mock drafts projected him as the second pick, recent assessments suggest he could be selected first overall by the Chicago White Sox. His profile has drawn comparisons to former Colleyville Heritage standout Bobby Witt Jr.
Flower Mound right-handed pitcher Cooper Harris is another prominent name, ranking among the top 80 overall prospects according to MLB.com. Harris posted a 0.46 earned run average with 104 strikeouts this season and has committed to the University of Texas. Similarly, Prestonwood Christian right-hander Savion Sims, the Dallas Morning News’ 2026 Newcomer of the Year, finished his high school career with a .913 ERA. Sims, who previously helped Santa Fe win a state championship in Oklahoma, throws a fastball rated at 100 mph by Perfect Game and helped lead Prestonwood to its first state title since 2022.
Keller’s Cole Koeninger, named the 2026 Dallas Morning News Baseball Player of the Year, is rated as a top 100 prospect by MLB.com. Koeninger, who is committed to Tennessee, posted a 1.14 ERA with 130 strikeouts, including eight strikeouts in a state championship win, while hitting .432 with nine home runs. Aledo left-hander Lucas Nawrocki, who has pledged to LSU, led his program to back-to-back state championships and threw a no-hitter through five innings in the 5A Division I state title game. He batted .512 with a 0.63 ERA.
