The Cincinnati Reds came out of the 2026 MLB Draft with a clear identity: chase athleticism, target premium positions and bet on upside at the plate. That approach showed up immediately with their first two selections, both shortstops, and it kept surfacing throughout the rest of the draft.
At No. 18 overall, the Reds took Alabama shortstop Justin Lebron, a player built on speed, range and power. He stole 42 bases this season and was caught only once, and his defensive profile gives him the kind of highlight-reel ability teams dream on. The one lingering question is the bat, after Lebron posted a .741 OPS in the SEC.
“We believe in our development, and we believe in his physical ability,” Katuska said.
“We think he can make the adjustments necessary moving forward. The makeup, the grind that he has to him, he’s ready for this.
He knows he has to make adjustments and make corrections moving forward. We think he’s fully prepared for it.”
Lebron has already spent plenty of time in the spotlight. He was followed this year for an MLB documentary about the paths of different prospects. The Reds also praised the way he carries himself, and Lebron even paid for teammates’ parents to watch their kids play at Alabama this year.
He sounded ready for the next step.
“I’m excited to be a part of such a great program,” Lebron said. “I’m ready to get to work to see what I can bring to the table.”
The Reds may have found their best bargain in the second round with Eric Becker, a shortstop from Virginia whom the club considered a first-round talent. Becker brought strong college production and a polished offensive approach to the table.
“He’s a very well-rounded baseball player,” Katuska said. “People sleep on some of his tools a bit because of how even it is across the board. He can hit.”
Taking Lebron and Becker back-to-back also fit a pattern for Cincinnati. Since the 2023 draft, the Reds have been one of five teams to take a shortstop in the top two rounds every year, alongside the Tigers, Rays, Diamondbacks and White Sox. Lebron and Becker now join a shortstop-heavy group in the system that includes Leo Balcazar, Carlos Sanchez, Tyson Lewis and 2025 first-round pick Steele Hall.
The rest of the draft brought some especially interesting names. Thirteenth-round pick Kenny Ishikawa was born in Hawaii and spent much of his childhood in Japan.
He played at Georgia, where he was a two-way player and hit .336 this season in the SEC. A foot injury slowed him on the mound, but the Reds remain intrigued by what he can do as a pitcher.
“He really wasn’t able to get on track on the mound,” Katuska said. “We saw him really good in the fall as a pitcher. That’s what’s most intriguing about it.”
Seventeenth-round pick Jack Lausch comes from a different kind of background entirely. He was Northwestern’s starting quarterback in 2024 and built a reputation as a physical, gutsy football player. Baseball was always his better sport, and he committed to it full-time in 2025.
“He’s physical, athletic and has big power,” Katuska said.
Then there’s 18th-round pick Matt Ponatoski, a pitcher from Moeller whose signing status remains tied to his commitment to Kentucky, where he’s also expected to be a quarterback. The Reds know they may have to navigate a tough decision, but they’re going to make their push.
“He’s a great kid,” Katuska said. “We know he has tremendous talent and tremendous options in front of him. We’ll see where the process takes us with it and we’ll make our best effort.”
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