ATLANTA – Saturday was a good day to be a Longhorn.
Grady Emerson and Beau Peterson – both University of Texas commits in the 2026 class – hit 26 home runs apiece to advance as the finalists in the 2025 High School Home Run Derby at Atlanta’s Truist Park, home of this year’s All-Star festivities. Both now move on to the finals held during Monday’s T-Mobile Home Run Derby, featuring some of the best sluggers from the Major Leagues.
The 26 total is tied for the second-most ever in the competition that dates back to 2013. Only Jared Jones (30, 2021) has hit more in the opening rounds, while Sal Stewart (2021) and Bobby Witt Jr. (2018) also reached the 26-HR mark.
“It’s very cool to have it be me and him,” said Emerson, who flipped his commitment from TCU to Texas back in November. “We’re now going to be competing for bragging rights, definitely, whether it’s high school, whether it’s at Texas. No matter where we go, we’re going to be competing for some bragging rights. But I’m very happy that I’m competing with him.”
Both left-handed sluggers split their 26 evenly with 13 each between the two-minute, 30-second opening round and the 90-second second round. None of the other seven competitors clubbed more than 10 homers during the shorter frame.
Peterson, in particular, got into a late rhythm and routinely pummeled balls toward the Chop House beyond right field. Before the competition even began, scouts noted that the Kansas native had plus-plus raw power, and he was able to lean into that in a controlled setting.
“At that point, you see the pitch and react to it,” said Peterson, who batted seventh of the nine sluggers. “Try to get as much elevation as possible, and control what you can control. The ball will carry, and it’ll go out itself.”
Hitting last, Emerson knew he needed to beat TJ McQuillan’s mark of 22 to advance and eclipsed that in the final minute. He kept on chugging to tie his potential future teammate at the top of the leaderboard.
Largely considered the best prep prospect in the ‘26 class, the Texas native has a history of performing on the big stage. He was named to the All-Tournament team in the WBSC World Cup Americas qualifier last year while playing for Team USA’s 18U National Team, having hit .381 in eight games, and it’s the hit tool that most excites scouts one year ahead of his Draft year. Saturday’s performance may have changed some minds on that front.
“I hope they see that I have some power in there,” Emerson said. “On the field, I tend to just be a nice little single, double [type hitter]. I try to make great contact. But today, I definitely want to show off that I have that power. Hopefully more to come.”
There was another familiar name to prospect fans in Saturday’s derby. Jacob Lombard – son of Tigers bench coach George Lombard and brother of top Yankees prospect George Lombard Jr. – went deep 15 times from the right side. His older sibling was on hand to witness the performance as a participant in Saturday’s All-Star Futures Game.
“He’s a stud, too, all-around,” said MLB Pipeline’s No. 36 overall prospect. “A great runner. He can hit, hit for power. Great defense. Just a good player all around, and hopefully I’ll play on the same field as him one day.”
Before talk of where any of Saturday’s competitors will land in next year’s Draft can begin in earnest, an official winner still needs to be crowned on Monday. Emerson and Peterson will get chances to not only win bragging rights among themselves, but also get to show off in front of a Derby class that includes big-time sluggers like Cal Raleigh, Oneil Cruz and local favorite Matt Olson.
“I’m just going to sit there and watch it,” Peterson said, “and maybe copy whatever they do here one day.”
Round 1 – 2 minutes, 30 seconds
Will Adams – 4
TJ McQuillan – 13
Brady Harris – 1
Keaton Neal – 5
Jacob Lombard – 9
Malachi Washington – 7
Beau Peterson – 13
Easton Autrey – 12
Grady Emerson – 13
Round 2 – 1 minute, 30 seconds
Will Adams – 10 (14 total)
TJ McQuillan – 9 (22 total)
Brady Harris – 3 (4 total)
Keaton Neal – 2 (7 total)
Jacob Lombard – 6 (15 total)
Malachi Washington – 2 (9 total)
Beau Peterson – 13 (26 total)
Easton Autrey – 8 (20 total)
Grady Emerson – 13 (26 total)
Here’s a look at this year’s participants:
Will Adams, 1B/LHP, Hoover HS (AL)
A two-way player who participated in the 2024 MLB Hank Aaron Invitational, Adams has exhibited solid bat-to-ball skills as the top-ranked prep first baseman in Alabama according to Perfect Game. The 6-foot-2, 202-pound southpaw has also worked his fastball up 92 mph from the bump. He is committed to Louisiana State.
Easton Autrey, 3B/1B/OF, Corsicana HS (TX)
Autrey knows a thing or two about aiming for the fences in Major League ballparks. The 17-year-old went viral for this 544-foot monster homer during a showcase at Texas’ Globe Life Field in November. Easton, who is the son of legendary Corsicana coach Heath Autrey, can barrel balls up with a solid left-handed swing and already has good size for a prepster at 6-foot-4 and 233 pounds. The slugger is a Texas commit.
Grady Emerson, SS/2B, Fort Worth Christian (TX)
Considered by many to be the No. 1 ranked player in the 2026 prep class, Emerson earns solid reviews for his all-around play. Batting from the left side, he might end up being hit-over-power in the end, but he can still find the barrel and lift balls with regularity — a good combination for this type of setting. Emerson was one of the youngest players on USA Baseball’s 18U National Team last fall and earned All-Tournament honors in the WBSC World Cup Americas qualifier as the side’s starting second baseman, batting .381 in eight games. Originally committed to TCU, he has since flipped to Texas.
Brady Harris, OF/IF, Trinity Christian Academy (FL)
Harris possesses a quick right-handed bat with a barrel that stays in the zone for a long time with good jump. Standing at 6-foot-2, he still has room to fill out and add to his promising raw pop. The Florida commit draws solid reviews for his defensive work in center too, but it’ll be the bat speed that has the potential to excite scouts and evaluators most come Saturday.
Jacob Lombard, SS/2B/3B, Gulliver Schools (FL)
Brother of MLB Pipeline’s No. 36 overall prospect George Lombard Jr. — who will be taking part in the MLB All-Star Futures Game later in the day — and son of Tigers bench coach George Lombard, Jacob is one of the more balanced hitters in the 2026 prep class. He’ll display both impressive discipline at the dish and improved exit velos as he’s added strength throughout his high school career. Like his brother, he’s considered an impressive defender at the six, giving him a solid prospect foundation at a premium position. If he can show off good pop in Atlanta, he could give himself a shot at beating George Jr.’s Draft position at No. 26 overall from 2023.
TJ McQuillan, 3B/OF, Mount Carmel HS (IN)
Blink and you might miss his swing. The 18-year-old has registered a max bat speed up to 87.7 mph, per Prep Baseball Report. (For reference, the fastest bat speeds recorded in the Majors this season have been 88 mph.) The 6-foot-1 left-handed slugger has earned a reputation as a punishing hitter who can use that torque to hit balls hard to right field. He is committed to Wake Forest.
Keaton Neal, SS/2B/RHP, Spring Hill HS (KS)
The 17-year-old has a legitimate chance to play either way in the future. His fastball has been clocked in the low-to-mid 90s, and some scouts see him as a middle-of-the-order bat whose profile leans hit slightly over power. Neal is committed to go to Florida, where Jac Caglianone starred as a two-way standout before going in the first round to the Royals last year.
Beau Peterson, 3B/C/RHP/UT, Mill Valley HS (KS)
Make that two sluggers from the Sunflower State. Standing at 6-foot-3 and batting from the left side, Peterson has plus-plus raw power and can put up big-time exit velocities that could help him pop Saturday beyond his home run totals. He typically balances that slugging ability with a solid approach — one scout said he has one of the better hit/power combos in the 2026 class — but in a Derby setting, he can let it fly more easily and willingly. The Texas commit has also been up to 95 mph on the bump, and using that arm, he likely profiles best at third base moving forward.
Malachi Washington, OF/2B, Parkview HS (GA)
Washington is a candidate to be the best overall athlete in the class, having also played football in high school, and his impressive speed and glovework in center field has long earned him looks from scouts. Originally thought to have a hit-first profile from the right side, the LSU commit has started to come into power through the spring and into the summer, and he has the bat speed to pummel balls in a controlled environment like Saturday’s Derby. Washington’s Parkview High School is just a 40-minute drive from Truist Park, giving the Peach Stater potential homefield advantage.