The Reds put together a relatively hitter-friendly draft class, especially with three straight college bats to start things off, in an effort to inject some offensive impact into its system. They got things started with one of the most talented players in the entire class in Justin Lebron, whose ceiling rivals any player in this draft, before looking for safer, more well-rounded profiles from there on out. They played their bonus pool relatively straightforwardly, paying up a little bit for Lebron, handing fifth rounder Dylan Bowen a third round bonus to steer him away from Oklahoma State, and going a little over on sophomore two-way player Kenny Ishikawa in the thirteenth with a sixth round bonus. In doing so, they were able to give every player drafted in the first ten rounds at least $147,500, avoiding the $10,000 senior sign that has become all too common in the draft.
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Note that the number before a player's name indicates their draft position. For example, "2-50" would indicate that a player was taken in the second round with the fiftieth overall pick.
1-18: SS Justin Lebron, Alabama
Slot value: $4.7 million. Signing bonus: $5 million ($304,500 above slot value).
My rank: #16. MLB Pipeline: #9. ESPN: #8.
Cincinnati is getting a potential superstar in Justin Lebron. He showed up at Alabama and hit .350/.435/.536 as a true freshman, immediately establishing himself as one of the top talents in the 2026 draft. A big sophomore season did little to damper expectations and he entered the spring a potential top five pick, though an up and down junior year quickly turned him into one of the draft's biggest enigmas. Watching him play, the talent is monumental. It's not just athleticism and upside, but a buttery smoothness that pervades his game on both sides of the baseball and the undeniable look of a big league star. When he's at his best, he looks like the best prospect in the entire draft. The sticking point, however, is consistent results. Lebron's numbers dipped slightly to .277/.386/.534 in 2026, including just .229/.328/.413 in 28 conference games, leaving a wide gap between his ceiling and his floor. He effortlessly produces above average power with an explosive right handed swing, helping him reach double digit home run totals in each of his three seasons at Alabama for a total of 45 in 179 games, and it's easy to dream on that power ticking up further as he fills out his athletic 6'2" frame. After chasing at a high rate over his first two seasons, he actually improved his approach a bit in 2026 but his contact rates remained below what you'd look for in a first round bat. He struck out 19.6% of the time on the year and 21.6% of the time in SEC play, neither number alarmingly high but again, a bit above what you'd like to see. The approach comes and goes, so Cincinnati will hope to lock him in with more consistency as he faces better and better pitching. The story is similar on defense. Lebron looks the part of a future Gold Glove defender at shortstop and if you catch him on the right set of a dozen ground balls, that's how you'd project him. He has the quickness, body control, and plus arm strength to make throws from any angle, making for a walking highlight reel type of profile at the next level. Like his offense, consistency is a sticking point. The Miami-area product can try to do too much at times, leading to far more errors than you'd expect from such a talented defender. On top of it all, he is a plus-plus runner who stole 42 bags in 43 tries this spring, good for a wicked 97.7% success rate and making him a menace to opposing defenses. Lebron could become a legitimate star or flare out in the minors depending on how the Reds are able to channel his monumental talent.
Slot value: $4.7 million. Signing bonus: $5 million ($304,500 above slot value).
My rank: #16. MLB Pipeline: #9. ESPN: #8.
Cincinnati is getting a potential superstar in Justin Lebron. He showed up at Alabama and hit .350/.435/.536 as a true freshman, immediately establishing himself as one of the top talents in the 2026 draft. A big sophomore season did little to damper expectations and he entered the spring a potential top five pick, though an up and down junior year quickly turned him into one of the draft's biggest enigmas. Watching him play, the talent is monumental. It's not just athleticism and upside, but a buttery smoothness that pervades his game on both sides of the baseball and the undeniable look of a big league star. When he's at his best, he looks like the best prospect in the entire draft. The sticking point, however, is consistent results. Lebron's numbers dipped slightly to .277/.386/.534 in 2026, including just .229/.328/.413 in 28 conference games, leaving a wide gap between his ceiling and his floor. He effortlessly produces above average power with an explosive right handed swing, helping him reach double digit home run totals in each of his three seasons at Alabama for a total of 45 in 179 games, and it's easy to dream on that power ticking up further as he fills out his athletic 6'2" frame. After chasing at a high rate over his first two seasons, he actually improved his approach a bit in 2026 but his contact rates remained below what you'd look for in a first round bat. He struck out 19.6% of the time on the year and 21.6% of the time in SEC play, neither number alarmingly high but again, a bit above what you'd like to see. The approach comes and goes, so Cincinnati will hope to lock him in with more consistency as he faces better and better pitching. The story is similar on defense. Lebron looks the part of a future Gold Glove defender at shortstop and if you catch him on the right set of a dozen ground balls, that's how you'd project him. He has the quickness, body control, and plus arm strength to make throws from any angle, making for a walking highlight reel type of profile at the next level. Like his offense, consistency is a sticking point. The Miami-area product can try to do too much at times, leading to far more errors than you'd expect from such a talented defender. On top of it all, he is a plus-plus runner who stole 42 bags in 43 tries this spring, good for a wicked 97.7% success rate and making him a menace to opposing defenses. Lebron could become a legitimate star or flare out in the minors depending on how the Reds are able to channel his monumental talent.
2-58: SS Eric Becker, Virginia
Slot value: $1.64 million. Signing bonus: $1.65 million ($12,300 above slot value).
My rank: #50. MLB Pipeline: #41. ESPN: #23.
Despite playing the same position, Eric Becker is the polar opposite prospect from Justin Lebron. The older brother of Mariners prospect Nick Becker, himself selected in almost the exact same spot (#57 in 2025), Eric hit campus at UVA and was an immediate contributor from day one. He hit .366/.459/.637 over 95 games in his first two seasons, cementing himself as one of the most consistent bats in the ACC and positioning himself as a potential first round pick in 2026. Becker hit .317/.427/.533 in what was more of a "good" than a "great" junior year this spring, with some publications (notably ESPN above) holding on to him as a first round prospect but others dropping him to the second round, where he eventually went to the Reds. While Lebron has tools galore and the whole, for now, is less than the sum of his parts, Becker is a high baseball IQ, jack of all trades, master of none type who figures to provide steady performance for Cincinnati. He makes plenty of contact from a simple left handed swing designed to spray line drives around the field, with a conscious plan of attack that helps do damage all around the zone. While he brings prototypical size at 6'3", 190 pounds, his skinny frame doesn't figure to add too much weight and his fringy power appears destined to stay that way. Becker can turn on the ball when he needs to and shows some healthy exit velocity data because he so often makes flush contact on the barrel, helping him project for 10-15 home runs per season in the big leagues. He chases at a high clip and batting average, rather than on-base percentage, will always be his strongest slash leg unless he cuts that down significantly. On the other side of the ball, he is a steady defender who has seen time all over the infield. The New York native should have what it takes to stick at shortstop, which certainly takes pressure off hitting for more power, and can easily fill in with average defense at second or third base. Again the opposite of Lebron, he won't wow with the flashy plays or plus speed but can anchor an infield with his feel for the game.
Slot value: $1.64 million. Signing bonus: $1.65 million ($12,300 above slot value).
My rank: #50. MLB Pipeline: #41. ESPN: #23.
Despite playing the same position, Eric Becker is the polar opposite prospect from Justin Lebron. The older brother of Mariners prospect Nick Becker, himself selected in almost the exact same spot (#57 in 2025), Eric hit campus at UVA and was an immediate contributor from day one. He hit .366/.459/.637 over 95 games in his first two seasons, cementing himself as one of the most consistent bats in the ACC and positioning himself as a potential first round pick in 2026. Becker hit .317/.427/.533 in what was more of a "good" than a "great" junior year this spring, with some publications (notably ESPN above) holding on to him as a first round prospect but others dropping him to the second round, where he eventually went to the Reds. While Lebron has tools galore and the whole, for now, is less than the sum of his parts, Becker is a high baseball IQ, jack of all trades, master of none type who figures to provide steady performance for Cincinnati. He makes plenty of contact from a simple left handed swing designed to spray line drives around the field, with a conscious plan of attack that helps do damage all around the zone. While he brings prototypical size at 6'3", 190 pounds, his skinny frame doesn't figure to add too much weight and his fringy power appears destined to stay that way. Becker can turn on the ball when he needs to and shows some healthy exit velocity data because he so often makes flush contact on the barrel, helping him project for 10-15 home runs per season in the big leagues. He chases at a high clip and batting average, rather than on-base percentage, will always be his strongest slash leg unless he cuts that down significantly. On the other side of the ball, he is a steady defender who has seen time all over the infield. The New York native should have what it takes to stick at shortstop, which certainly takes pressure off hitting for more power, and can easily fill in with average defense at second or third base. Again the opposite of Lebron, he won't wow with the flashy plays or plus speed but can anchor an infield with his feel for the game.
CBB-70: 1B Mulivai Levu, UCLA
Slot value: $1.22 million. Signing bonus: $1.1 million ($125,600 below slot value).
My rank: #94. MLB Pipeline: #62. ESPN: #100.
Moving off of shortstops, Cincinnati makes it three college bats in a row with UCLA first baseman Mulivai Levu. Like Justin Lebron and Eric Becker, he has been a starter since his freshman year but unlike those two, 2026 was his best. In fact, he improved significantly in each of his three seasons, slashing .291/.355/.455 with six home runs as a freshman, .320/.389/.522 with 12 home runs as sophomore, and finally .340/.441/.622 with 18 home runs as a junior. Levu is a sturdy 6'1" with above average power that he has tapped more and more in games as he has improved his approach. Just as with his slash line and his home run totals, his strikeout rates have dropped significantly each season from 27.3% to 15.3% to 11.1%. While he is still an aggressive hitter, he shows strong bat to ball despite some bat wrap in his right handed swing for possibly the best contact/power combination in this Reds draft class. Levu has played mostly first base thus far and he'll probably stay there long term, he's a much better athlete than he looks as a passionate pickleball and frisbee golf player as well as flame-twirler. Some evaluators projected him to at least be worth a shot at third base, where he has enough arm strength and fringy footwork, but at first base he should be an above average defender overall. The Southern California native has a chance to develop into a 20 homer, high average bat, but he'll need to learn more patience at the plate and clear the high offensive bar for first basemen.
Slot value: $1.22 million. Signing bonus: $1.1 million ($125,600 below slot value).
My rank: #94. MLB Pipeline: #62. ESPN: #100.
Moving off of shortstops, Cincinnati makes it three college bats in a row with UCLA first baseman Mulivai Levu. Like Justin Lebron and Eric Becker, he has been a starter since his freshman year but unlike those two, 2026 was his best. In fact, he improved significantly in each of his three seasons, slashing .291/.355/.455 with six home runs as a freshman, .320/.389/.522 with 12 home runs as sophomore, and finally .340/.441/.622 with 18 home runs as a junior. Levu is a sturdy 6'1" with above average power that he has tapped more and more in games as he has improved his approach. Just as with his slash line and his home run totals, his strikeout rates have dropped significantly each season from 27.3% to 15.3% to 11.1%. While he is still an aggressive hitter, he shows strong bat to ball despite some bat wrap in his right handed swing for possibly the best contact/power combination in this Reds draft class. Levu has played mostly first base thus far and he'll probably stay there long term, he's a much better athlete than he looks as a passionate pickleball and frisbee golf player as well as flame-twirler. Some evaluators projected him to at least be worth a shot at third base, where he has enough arm strength and fringy footwork, but at first base he should be an above average defender overall. The Southern California native has a chance to develop into a 20 homer, high average bat, but he'll need to learn more patience at the plate and clear the high offensive bar for first basemen.
3-94: RHP Ty Horn, Nebraska
Slot value: $833,800. Signing bonus: $647,500 ($186,300 below slot value).
My rank: unranked. MLB Pipeline: #234. ESPN: #138.
Ty Horn seems to be close to putting it all together, but he hasn't quite gotten there. He didn't pitch too much as a freshman, then jumped into the rotation as a sophomore to solid, if unspectacular, results. Expectations were high entering 2026 and he had a few strong starts at the beginning of the season, but his grip began to slip as the season moved on and he spent some time in the Nebraska bullpen. He ultimately set career-bests in ERA (4.03), WHIP (1.23), strikeout rate (24.8%), and walk rate (7.4%) but didn't fully take the step forward scouts had hoped for. Still, the Reds liked the full package and envision that next step coming soon. He shows a low 90's fastball that gets up to 95-96 as a starter or as high as 98 in short stints out of the bullpen. There is a full set of decent secondaries including a slider, cutter, curveball, and changeup. Each has its own unique movement pattern even if none stand out, though his feel to sell his changeup at this age is a nice feather in his cap. Horn doesn't have pinpoint command but throws strikes with his whole arsenal and can pitch deep into games as a starter, though he can get hit hard over the heart of the plate. There is some projection on his 6'2" frame with solid athleticism, and added strength could help him add a few ticks to his fastball or some sharpness to his offspeed stuff that could be a game changer. The Wichita-area native will likely never be an ace, rather profiling as a back-end starter or long reliever. Any step forward in his velocity, offspeed stuff, or in-zone command should get him to that ceiling. He gives Cincinnati a bit of a discount, too, signing for fourth round money here in the third round.
Slot value: $833,800. Signing bonus: $647,500 ($186,300 below slot value).
My rank: unranked. MLB Pipeline: #234. ESPN: #138.
Ty Horn seems to be close to putting it all together, but he hasn't quite gotten there. He didn't pitch too much as a freshman, then jumped into the rotation as a sophomore to solid, if unspectacular, results. Expectations were high entering 2026 and he had a few strong starts at the beginning of the season, but his grip began to slip as the season moved on and he spent some time in the Nebraska bullpen. He ultimately set career-bests in ERA (4.03), WHIP (1.23), strikeout rate (24.8%), and walk rate (7.4%) but didn't fully take the step forward scouts had hoped for. Still, the Reds liked the full package and envision that next step coming soon. He shows a low 90's fastball that gets up to 95-96 as a starter or as high as 98 in short stints out of the bullpen. There is a full set of decent secondaries including a slider, cutter, curveball, and changeup. Each has its own unique movement pattern even if none stand out, though his feel to sell his changeup at this age is a nice feather in his cap. Horn doesn't have pinpoint command but throws strikes with his whole arsenal and can pitch deep into games as a starter, though he can get hit hard over the heart of the plate. There is some projection on his 6'2" frame with solid athleticism, and added strength could help him add a few ticks to his fastball or some sharpness to his offspeed stuff that could be a game changer. The Wichita-area native will likely never be an ace, rather profiling as a back-end starter or long reliever. Any step forward in his velocity, offspeed stuff, or in-zone command should get him to that ceiling. He gives Cincinnati a bit of a discount, too, signing for fourth round money here in the third round.
4-122: LHP Ethan Norby, East Carolina
Slot value: $632,500. Signing bonus: $630,000 ($2,500 below slot value).
My rank: unranked. MLB Pipeline: #167. ESPN: #93.
In a lot of ways, Ethan Norby is the opposite of Ty Horn. After a successful freshman season as a swingman, he took a step forward as a sophomore in 2025 with an excellent 32.3% strikeout rate but really caught scouts' attention with a nineteen strikeout performance against eventual National Champion Coastal Carolina in just his fourth start of the season. In his draft year in 2026, he showed similar stuff but didn't take the next step, so he finds himself here in the fourth round. The fastball sits in the low 90's and touches 95, not overpowering velocity but enough to get the job done as a lefty. The slider steals the show, diving across the plate as he throws it with conviction and leans on it heavily. He can turn it over into a cutter that plays well off the slider, while the changeup will need some work in pro ball. The 5'10" lefty lacks prototypical size as a starting pitcher, but as he throws from a low arm slot and creates flat angle on his pitches, it creates a unique look especially from the left side. Norby also repeats his crossfire delivery well and controls the strike zone well, lending hope that he can remain a starter despite a very slider-reliant profile. Norby will probably need to find another tick on his fastball and bring his changeup along if he wants to stick in the rotation, but the slider gives him a high ceiling either in a rotation or bullpen role. You might recognize the last name from his older brother, Connor, currently filling in around the infield for the Rockies.
Slot value: $632,500. Signing bonus: $630,000 ($2,500 below slot value).
My rank: unranked. MLB Pipeline: #167. ESPN: #93.
In a lot of ways, Ethan Norby is the opposite of Ty Horn. After a successful freshman season as a swingman, he took a step forward as a sophomore in 2025 with an excellent 32.3% strikeout rate but really caught scouts' attention with a nineteen strikeout performance against eventual National Champion Coastal Carolina in just his fourth start of the season. In his draft year in 2026, he showed similar stuff but didn't take the next step, so he finds himself here in the fourth round. The fastball sits in the low 90's and touches 95, not overpowering velocity but enough to get the job done as a lefty. The slider steals the show, diving across the plate as he throws it with conviction and leans on it heavily. He can turn it over into a cutter that plays well off the slider, while the changeup will need some work in pro ball. The 5'10" lefty lacks prototypical size as a starting pitcher, but as he throws from a low arm slot and creates flat angle on his pitches, it creates a unique look especially from the left side. Norby also repeats his crossfire delivery well and controls the strike zone well, lending hope that he can remain a starter despite a very slider-reliant profile. Norby will probably need to find another tick on his fastball and bring his changeup along if he wants to stick in the rotation, but the slider gives him a high ceiling either in a rotation or bullpen role. You might recognize the last name from his older brother, Connor, currently filling in around the infield for the Rockies.
5-154: SS Dylan Bowen, Hanover Central HS [IN]
Slot value: $463,200. Signing bonus: $997,500 ($534,300 above slot value).
My rank: unranked. MLB Pipeline: #105. ESPN: #123.
Coming back to the Midwest, Cincinnati made their biggest over-slot splurge on Dylan Bowen, handing him third round money to forgo an Oklahoma State commitment. A product of Northwest Indiana on the outskirts of the Chicago suburbs, Bowen has made a name for himself among Midwest scouts with consistent strong hitting performances everywhere he's gone including this spring back home. He uses a simple right handed setup to see the ball deep and send it back where it's pitched, using the whole field effectively and overall putting together some of the more professional at bats in the region. As the Chicagoland spring warmed up, he also impressed evaluators by coming out a bit more physical and bumping up some of his supplemental tools. Still hit over power, he now profiles as more fringy in that regard as opposed to below average, with a much better shot at reaching double digit home run totals than perhaps a year ago. Bowen is also a plus runner who will certainly make the most of his plethora of line drives by stretching singles into doubles and doubles into a triples, while his speed and advanced glovework make for a strong shortstop projection. It's a pretty complete package so long as the power continues to come along, with the only knock on his profile being his age. Bowen turned 19 back in January, making him the age of a college freshman playing against high schoolers this spring and putting a bit of an asterisk on the "advanced" asterisk of his profile. Still, the Reds are sold that it would stand out even against junior college competition in his age group, seeing him as very strong middle infield depth beyond Justin Lebron and Eric Becker leading off this class.
Slot value: $463,200. Signing bonus: $997,500 ($534,300 above slot value).
My rank: unranked. MLB Pipeline: #105. ESPN: #123.
Coming back to the Midwest, Cincinnati made their biggest over-slot splurge on Dylan Bowen, handing him third round money to forgo an Oklahoma State commitment. A product of Northwest Indiana on the outskirts of the Chicago suburbs, Bowen has made a name for himself among Midwest scouts with consistent strong hitting performances everywhere he's gone including this spring back home. He uses a simple right handed setup to see the ball deep and send it back where it's pitched, using the whole field effectively and overall putting together some of the more professional at bats in the region. As the Chicagoland spring warmed up, he also impressed evaluators by coming out a bit more physical and bumping up some of his supplemental tools. Still hit over power, he now profiles as more fringy in that regard as opposed to below average, with a much better shot at reaching double digit home run totals than perhaps a year ago. Bowen is also a plus runner who will certainly make the most of his plethora of line drives by stretching singles into doubles and doubles into a triples, while his speed and advanced glovework make for a strong shortstop projection. It's a pretty complete package so long as the power continues to come along, with the only knock on his profile being his age. Bowen turned 19 back in January, making him the age of a college freshman playing against high schoolers this spring and putting a bit of an asterisk on the "advanced" asterisk of his profile. Still, the Reds are sold that it would stand out even against junior college competition in his age group, seeing him as very strong middle infield depth beyond Justin Lebron and Eric Becker leading off this class.
6-183: RHP Duncan Marsten, Wake Forest
Slot value: $358,900. Signing bonus: $322,500 ($36,400 below slot value).
Slot value: $358,900. Signing bonus: $322,500 ($36,400 below slot value).
My rank: unranked. MLB Pipeline: #194. ESPN: #173.
Duncan Marsten brings a much better combination of stuff and track record than you might expect in the sixth round, especially for a slight discount. He turned heads right at the start of his senior year at famed Harvard-Westlake High School in Los Angeles in 2024 by coming out throwing 99 with crisp secondaries, then ultimately settled in a tick below that and found himself projected in roughly the third round range by July. He priced himself out of the draft and instead crossed the country to Wake Forest, where poor command kept him from making too much of an impact as a freshman. He walked 16.7% of his opponents in the Cape Cod League that summer, but showcased loud stuff and came back to Winston-Salem in 2026 with some buzz. Draft-eligible as a sophomore because he graduated high school at 19 years old, Marsten took a step forward as a sophomore but still struggled enough with command to fall back a few rounds from his high school projection. The LA native sits in the mid 90's and still tickles 99 with his explosive fastball, but the rest of his game is yet to catch up. He throws a tight power slider in the upper 80's as his main secondary offering, but doesn't use his curveball or changeup as much. Additionally, while the 6'3" righty creates good extension and a difficult release point that makes the ball jump on hitters even beyond its velocity, he struggles to repeat his delivery and said release point leading to below average control. That is especially apparent with his secondary stuff, leading to him often falling behind in counts and having to come back over the plate with a fastball to get back into control. More advanced hitters will look for that center-cut fastball and feast on it, even at its impressive velocity, so it will be imperative for Marsten to gain more consistent feel for locating that secondary stuff. If Cincinnati is patient and lets him slowly put things together, there is still mid rotation upside, but the more likely outcome is as a fastball/slider reliever who could reach triple digits in short stints.
Duncan Marsten brings a much better combination of stuff and track record than you might expect in the sixth round, especially for a slight discount. He turned heads right at the start of his senior year at famed Harvard-Westlake High School in Los Angeles in 2024 by coming out throwing 99 with crisp secondaries, then ultimately settled in a tick below that and found himself projected in roughly the third round range by July. He priced himself out of the draft and instead crossed the country to Wake Forest, where poor command kept him from making too much of an impact as a freshman. He walked 16.7% of his opponents in the Cape Cod League that summer, but showcased loud stuff and came back to Winston-Salem in 2026 with some buzz. Draft-eligible as a sophomore because he graduated high school at 19 years old, Marsten took a step forward as a sophomore but still struggled enough with command to fall back a few rounds from his high school projection. The LA native sits in the mid 90's and still tickles 99 with his explosive fastball, but the rest of his game is yet to catch up. He throws a tight power slider in the upper 80's as his main secondary offering, but doesn't use his curveball or changeup as much. Additionally, while the 6'3" righty creates good extension and a difficult release point that makes the ball jump on hitters even beyond its velocity, he struggles to repeat his delivery and said release point leading to below average control. That is especially apparent with his secondary stuff, leading to him often falling behind in counts and having to come back over the plate with a fastball to get back into control. More advanced hitters will look for that center-cut fastball and feast on it, even at its impressive velocity, so it will be imperative for Marsten to gain more consistent feel for locating that secondary stuff. If Cincinnati is patient and lets him slowly put things together, there is still mid rotation upside, but the more likely outcome is as a fastball/slider reliever who could reach triple digits in short stints.
8-242: C Brady Neal, Alabama
Slot value: $229,700. Signing bonus: $147,500 ($82,200 below slot value).
My rank: unranked. MLB Pipeline: unranked. ESPN: unranked.
Brady Neal, like Duncan Marsten, has plenty of track record with scouts. He was a famous prep at IMG Academy in Florida, where he reclassified up a year and earned top 100 interest as a 17 year old senior in 2022. Scouts praised his advanced game at such a young age but he made it to campus at LSU, where he earned a part-time role as an 18 year old freshman in 2023. His bat took a step forward in a larger role in 2024, then he transferred to Alabama in 2025 but struggled mightily at the plate as his slash line dropped from .276/.408/.578 as a sophomore to .219/.373/.336 as a junior. Returning to campus for his senior year in 2026, he bounced all the way back for a career-best .316/.429/.541 slash line in a career-high 61 games, re-establishing himself as a legitimate draft prospect. While the Tallahassee native impressed evaluators with his polish four years ago, he's largely the same player today and lacks a standout tool. Undersized at 5'10", he has a strong approach at the plate that has helped him run a .408 on-base percentage over four years, masking fringier pure bat to ball that may be exploited in pro ball. There is some pop in the profile, enough to keep pitchers honest but unlikely to produce high home run totals with wood bats. Neal has been a catcher for most of his college career but ceded most playing time behind the dish to John Lemm in 2026, instead spending much of his time in the outfield where he looked fringy. He'll move back behind the plate in pro ball, where his average defensive skills and solid athleticism should help his bat profile a little better. Though he's a senior sign, he's the age of a college junior and won't turn 22 until the offseason, putting him on a standard development schedule. Neal profiles as a future backup catcher.
Slot value: $229,700. Signing bonus: $147,500 ($82,200 below slot value).
My rank: unranked. MLB Pipeline: unranked. ESPN: unranked.
Brady Neal, like Duncan Marsten, has plenty of track record with scouts. He was a famous prep at IMG Academy in Florida, where he reclassified up a year and earned top 100 interest as a 17 year old senior in 2022. Scouts praised his advanced game at such a young age but he made it to campus at LSU, where he earned a part-time role as an 18 year old freshman in 2023. His bat took a step forward in a larger role in 2024, then he transferred to Alabama in 2025 but struggled mightily at the plate as his slash line dropped from .276/.408/.578 as a sophomore to .219/.373/.336 as a junior. Returning to campus for his senior year in 2026, he bounced all the way back for a career-best .316/.429/.541 slash line in a career-high 61 games, re-establishing himself as a legitimate draft prospect. While the Tallahassee native impressed evaluators with his polish four years ago, he's largely the same player today and lacks a standout tool. Undersized at 5'10", he has a strong approach at the plate that has helped him run a .408 on-base percentage over four years, masking fringier pure bat to ball that may be exploited in pro ball. There is some pop in the profile, enough to keep pitchers honest but unlikely to produce high home run totals with wood bats. Neal has been a catcher for most of his college career but ceded most playing time behind the dish to John Lemm in 2026, instead spending much of his time in the outfield where he looked fringy. He'll move back behind the plate in pro ball, where his average defensive skills and solid athleticism should help his bat profile a little better. Though he's a senior sign, he's the age of a college junior and won't turn 22 until the offseason, putting him on a standard development schedule. Neal profiles as a future backup catcher.
17-512: OF Jack Lausch, Northwestern
Slot value: up to $150,000. Signing bonus: $150,000.
My rank: unranked. MLB Pipeline: unranked. ESPN: unranked.
This is a fun one. Jack Lausch was a superstar athlete at Brother Rice High School in Chicago in basketball, football, and baseball, where he actually hit a walk off home run against Brady Neal's IMG Academy in their shared 2022 senior year. A three star football recruit, he spurned a preferred walk on opportunity at Notre Dame to accept a roster spot locally Northwestern. Early in his college career, he was actually a bigger football star than baseball, working his way up to the starting quarterback job for the Wildcats by his sophomore year and consistently remaining high on the depth chart even in years where he wasn't the outright starter. He didn't play baseball as a freshman or as a sophomore, but got on the field as a junior and earned the starting center field right away. He took another step forward as a senior/second year baseball player after giving up football, slashing .312/.393/.653 with 16 home runs to establish himself as a legitimate draft prospect. Lausch has football size and athleticism at 6'2", 215 pounds, bringing that strength to the diamond in a variety of ways. The power has started to show up and could become a major part of his game, though his approach at the plate remains relatively raw with an elevated 27.8% strikeout rate and a more average 10.7% walk rate. It's a simple, direct left handed swing that produces natural leverage without selling out, so more experience against high level arms and patient development from the Reds organization should help get him closer to a fringy hit tool, though for now it's well below average. He plays a strong center field and can profile in all three outfield spots, which especially as a left handed hitter helps his profile significantly. If Lausch can clean up his approach, which at 22 years old (23 this offseason) isn't necessarily a given, he has a chance to be a useful fourth outfielder with some thump at the plate.
Slot value: up to $150,000. Signing bonus: $150,000.
My rank: unranked. MLB Pipeline: unranked. ESPN: unranked.
This is a fun one. Jack Lausch was a superstar athlete at Brother Rice High School in Chicago in basketball, football, and baseball, where he actually hit a walk off home run against Brady Neal's IMG Academy in their shared 2022 senior year. A three star football recruit, he spurned a preferred walk on opportunity at Notre Dame to accept a roster spot locally Northwestern. Early in his college career, he was actually a bigger football star than baseball, working his way up to the starting quarterback job for the Wildcats by his sophomore year and consistently remaining high on the depth chart even in years where he wasn't the outright starter. He didn't play baseball as a freshman or as a sophomore, but got on the field as a junior and earned the starting center field right away. He took another step forward as a senior/second year baseball player after giving up football, slashing .312/.393/.653 with 16 home runs to establish himself as a legitimate draft prospect. Lausch has football size and athleticism at 6'2", 215 pounds, bringing that strength to the diamond in a variety of ways. The power has started to show up and could become a major part of his game, though his approach at the plate remains relatively raw with an elevated 27.8% strikeout rate and a more average 10.7% walk rate. It's a simple, direct left handed swing that produces natural leverage without selling out, so more experience against high level arms and patient development from the Reds organization should help get him closer to a fringy hit tool, though for now it's well below average. He plays a strong center field and can profile in all three outfield spots, which especially as a left handed hitter helps his profile significantly. If Lausch can clean up his approach, which at 22 years old (23 this offseason) isn't necessarily a given, he has a chance to be a useful fourth outfielder with some thump at the plate.
