The Reds may have found more than a promising bat when they used the 18th overall pick on Justin Lebron.
On Saturday, July 11th, Cincinnati selected the 21-year-old shortstop from the University of Alabama, a choice that caught the fan base off guard after Lebron had been rumored to go as high as first overall. For the Reds, the payoff could be huge if he turns into the kind of player some already believe he can be.
Lebron moved quickly through his first steps in the organization. After the draft, the Reds sent him to their Complex in Goodyear, Arizona, and after a brief stay there, they decided he was ready for pro ball.
On August 11, Cincinnati assigned him to High-A Dayton, where he wasted little time making noise. In just his fourth game, he hit the first home run of his professional career.
The next night, he added the first grand slam of his career. Through his first week in pro baseball, Lebron is batting .381 with a .762 slugging percentage and a 1.171 OPS.
That production has only added to the buzz around his arrival in Dayton. His first series with the Dragons came on the road against the Lake County Captains, and this week he made his Day Air Park debut in front of the home crowd. It also gave local media a chance to hear from the 2026 Draft pick about what he wants his career to look like.
"Some unbelievable names have come through here and I want to be one of those names eventually," Lebron told Joey DeBeradino of WDTN. "I'm a competitor. I love winning."
Lebron also talked with maturity about the grind of the sport, acknowledging that baseball is difficult and that setbacks are part of the job. That kind of mindset matters just as much as talent, because the gap between good and great is often how a player handles the rough stretches.
His Dayton debut, though, was a reminder of that reality. Lebron went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts and an error at shortstop, and the Dragons fell 7-2 on Tuesday night.
Still, baseball gives him a quick turnaround, and that next opportunity is always right around the corner. That’s the kind of approach Lebron is bringing with him, and it’s a good sign for the Reds.
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