Alabama’s Justin Lebron selected in first round + other state connections to 2026 MLB Draft
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For the third straight year, the Alabama Crimson Tide was represented in the first round of the MLB Draft.
Shortstop Justin Lebron was selected 18th overall by the Cincinnati Reds. He’s the program’s highest draft pick since 1991 (Joe Vitiello).
With the selection, Alabama became the only school to have a player selected in the first rounds of the MLB, NBA and NFL Drafts this year.
Keep reading to learn more about Lebron’s path to the big leagues + other notable draft picks with connections to our state.
Justin Lebron drafted by the Cincinnati Reds
Lebron was a highly-anticipated recruit out of high school and was often considered a top-5 pick ahead of his final season in Tuscaloosa.
While there were some individual struggles at the plate and in the field, Lebron still helped the Tide to the Men’s College World Series for the first time in more than two decades.
In three seasons with Alabama, Lebron racked up:
- 46 home runs
- 157 RBIs
- .984 OPS
- 66 stolen bases
Lebron was one of four Alabama players selected in the draft including:
- Tyler Fay: 6th round | Pittsburgh Pirates
- Zane Adams: 6th round | Baltimore Orioles
- Brady Neal: 8th round | Cincinnati Reds
In-state players selected in the 2026 MLB Draft
Auburn may not have had a first round pick but they did nearly double their rival’s total output of draft picks. The Tigers have 30 top-10-round picks in 11 seasons under head coach Butch Thompson.
This year’s selections included:
- Chris Rembert: 2nd round | Pittsburgh Pirates
- Alex Petrovic: 6th round | New York Mets
- Ryan Hetzler: 7th round | Los Angeles Angels
- Eric Guevara: 7th round | Miami Marlins
- Garrett Brewer: 12th round | Colorado Rockies
- Jett Johnson: 13th round | Detroit Tigers
After a historic season for the Troy Trojans which included their first ever trip to Omaha, the team saw four key players selected in this year’s draft including:
- Aaron Piasecki: 8th round | Astros
- Benjamin Stubbs: 9th round | Padres
- Zach Crotchfelt: 14th round | Mets
- Dylan Alonso: 16th round | Royals
Here are some of the other in-state colleges represented in the 2026 MLB Draft:
- Beau Bryans, Jax State: 7th round | St. Louis Cardinals
- Mason Steele, UAB: 10th round | Arizona Diamondbacks
- Jacob Haley, South Alabama: 11th round | St. Louis Cardinals
- Caleb Johnson, Jax State: 13th round | Los Angeles Dodgers
- Brady Thomas, Jax State: 14th round | Houston Astros
- Brian Garmon, South Alabama: 15th round | St. Louis Cardinals
Three central Alabama high school players were drafted including:
- Rocco Maniscalco, Oxford: 2nd round | St. Louis Cardinals
- Grant Hill, Chelsea: 7th round | Milwaukee Brewers
- Will Adams, Hoover: 11th round | Detroit Tigers
And if you’re a fan of minor league baseball around the state, a name to remember is Roch Cholowsky who was the No. 1 overall pick by the Chicago White Sox. He could be with the Birmingham Barons in the Southern League before the end of the season so keep an eye out!
