5 things to know about Cincinnati Reds 2026 MLB draft pick Justin Lebron

PHILADELPHIA – The Cincinnati Reds took University of Alabama shortstop Justin Lebron with the No. 18 overall pick of the 2026 MLB Draft on Saturday, July 11.

Five things to know about the 6-foot-3, 165-pound right-handed hitter:

• You might start hearing comparisons to Elly De La Cruz for Lebron’s dynamic power-speed combination. He led the Tide with 16 home runs and 42 stolen bases – in 43 attempts. Lebron’s the second straight shortstop from the state of Alabama that the Reds drafted in the first round, last year selecting high school whiz Steele Hall ninth overall).
• Lebron was Baseball America’s top-rated college athlete in the draft and third-rated defensive college shortstop – so good defensively he projects as a “no-doubt” shortstop professionally. He was BA’s No. 19 overall prospect in the draft and MLB Pipeline’s No. 9 prospect in the draft.
• Lebron is the first University of Alabama player selected in the top 10 of the MLB draft since Joe Vitello was taken seventh overall by the Royals in 1991.
• An undrafted, unheralded prospect out of Archbishop McCarthy High School just outside of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Lebron excelled after getting to college, eventually leading the Crimson Tide to its first College World Series appearance since 1999 as a junior this year.
• Born in The Bronx, New York, Lebron’s family moved to South Florida when he was 4.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: 5 things to know about Cincinnati Reds 2026 MLB draft pick Justin Lebron