Thanks to two second-round picks, the Reds had more money to play with and the opportunity to add some premium talent in the 2026 MLB Draft. Cincinnati’s haul included three impressive middle infielders, plus pitchers with upside.
The picks
| Round | Player | School | Signed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Justin Lebron | Alabama | Y |
| 2 | Eric Becker | Virginia | Y |
| 2 | Mulivai Levu | UCLA | Y |
| 3 | Tyner Horn | Nebraska | Y |
| 4 | Ethan Norby | East Carolina | Y |
| 5 | Dylan Bowen | Hanover Central HS | Y |
| 6 | Duncan Marsten | Wake Forest | Y |
| 7 | Sherman Johnson | NC State | Y |
| 8 | Brady Neal | Alabama | Y |
| 9 | Damian Ruiz | Arkansas | Y |
| 10 | Conner Griffin | SUNY Binghamton | Y |
| 11 | Calvin Proskey | UC Santa Barbara | Y |
| 12 | Brodie Purcell | Florida State | Y |
| 13 | Kenny Ishikawa | Georgia | Y |
| 14 | Ray Ladd | Radford | Y |
| 15 | David Hinojosa | Poly Prep HS | N |
| 16 | Victor Christal | Johnson County CC | Y |
| 17 | Jack Lausch | Northwestern | Y |
| 18 | Matt Ponatoski | Moeller HS | N |
| 19 | Ryan Nelson | East Central CC | Y |
| 20 | Tristan Helmick | Lafayette | Y |
The players
The Reds took two Alabama players in the top 10 rounds. One was Brady Neal, a catcher with LSU and the Crimson Tide who showed pop and flair for the big moment. The other was Justin Lebron, considered one of the best overall players available heading into 2026.
That sentiment didn’t change too much in 2026, despite what was a slow year for Lebron. Lebron slashed just .277/.386/.534 with 16 home runs this past season for Alabama. An athletic, natural shortstop with power, Lebron hit eight home runs in the first three weeks of the year, went on a cold spell, and then picked up a hit in all but one postseason game.
Lebron, if he pans out, is the type of player who can be a real building block.
Aside from him, the Reds dipped into the college ranks and picked Eric Becker and Mulivai Levu in the second round. Both were consistent, reliable hitters with their respective colleges. And in Becker’s case, the former UVA star was a possible Day 1 pick.
After the three college hitters at the top, the Reds loaded up on college pitchers, starting with Ty Horn. Horn had a good overall year with Nebraska, as he struck out 87 over 82 IP. He doesn’t have as hard of a fastball, only sitting in the low-90s, compared to fellow Cornhusker Carson Jasa, taken by the Cubs. However, Horn’s fastball has carrying action, and he can separate with the changeup.
In the fourth round, the Reds picked East Carolina ace Ethan Norby. Norby, the younger brother of current Rockies infielder Connor Norby, struck out 131 batters in Division I this season, tied with now-Yankees pitcher Hunter Dietz.
Between his track record, bloodline history, and the fact that he showed really good stuff, including a low-to-mid-90s fastball & sweeping slider, one would think that Norby should have gone higher. However, he is a shorter pitcher at 5’10”. Yes, that can work to his advantage, creating a different angle. But it’s still a stereotype he’ll have to fight.
In the sixth round, the Reds picked Duncan Marsten out of Wake Forest. Marsten was one of the best high school pitchers with baseball powerhouse Harvard-Westlake in Los Angeles. However, he went to the pitching factory in Wake Forest and pitched fine, although he wasn’t healthy for his two seasons with the Demon Deacons.
Marsten struck out 79 over 57 IP this past season in Wake Forest. Heavy fastball with sink, which resulted in a lot of ground balls. Velocity ranged from 94-98 MPH.
The Reds weren’t done there with the college players. NC State’s Sherman Johnson hit .330 with the Wolfpack last season, hitting nine home runs in his lone season with the school. Not to mention, he hit well in ACC play.
Additionally, the club went overslot to grab TWP Kenny Ishikawa from Georgia. A toolsy player with Georgia, Ishikawa wound up being one of those invaluable pieces for a Bulldogs team that just missed out on the CWS final this past year. Ishikawa batted over .330 with Georgia and also struck out 20 batters over 14 innings.
Cincinnati didn’t dip into the high school too much. Two of their high school picks didn’t sign, one of whom was David Hinojosa from Brooklyn, New York. However, the Reds spent $997,500 to land Dylan Bowen from Indiana on an overslot deal.
Fast player; ran a 6.54s 60-yard dash in the 2025 PG high school showcase circuit, and also flashed pop, to boot. Add another athletic shortstop to the Reds’ system.
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