Potential Top 10 Draft pick Lebron inspired by brother born with Williams syndrome

Justin Lebron has smashed his share of baseballs and watched his share of ballgames. But the best bat flip he’s ever seen belongs to his brother, Jayden.

Born with Williams syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that causes high risk for heart and blood vessel issues, Jayden Lebron was not able to follow in the baseball footsteps of his older brother Justin, the University of Alabama shortstop who ranks No. 9 on MLB Pipeline’s 2026 Draft Prospects list.

But Jayden has long competed in the Miracle League, which provides baseball opportunities to children and adults with physical and mental disabilities. And yes, he’s been known to flip a bat after a big hit.

“I think it’s the coolest thing ever,” Justin Lebron says of the league.

Lebron’s path to the Major Leagues has been impacted by the Miracle League. He’s volunteered at many Miracle League events, and the experience has given him perspective on how fortunate he is to pursue a professional career in a sport that is such an important outlet for people like Jayden.

“You see all these different people and personalities mixing and blending together as one,” Justin says. “You see that life is so much harder than struggling in baseball. And when you think about it like that, you just go out there and try to enjoy the moment.”

There is plenty to enjoy about Lebron’s game. His surname might command attention and create confusion related to a certain NBA superstar. By now, Lebron is accustomed to people mistakenly spelling his name “LeBron.” He’s gone by the nickname “The Lowercase b” and has joked that LeBron James is his uncle.

But this Lebron’s skills stand out on their own.

Lebron, 21, was one of the most electric talents on the NCAA diamond this past season, helping to lead the Crimson Tide to the school’s first men’s College World Series appearance since 1999 with a .920 OPS, 16 homers, 13 doubles and 42 steals (in 43 attempts) in 61 games. He has exceptional range at short, a high-caliber arm, lightning-quick hands, good power for a middle infielder and elite instincts on the basepaths.

“I think I’m someone who’s tough,” Lebron says. “I like to be very competitive, and I want the pitcher or whoever I’m playing against to be like, ‘I don’t want to play against that guy.’”

Lebron’s efficiency on the basepaths could play up all the more in a professional game that has re-ignited the value of the steal via rules changes.

“It really comes down to just believing in myself, trusting myself,” he says. “But you can't knock the work that we've done, studying the film and seeing a guy’s routine and picking apart little things, if he’s tipping his pitches or his tendencies. It’s bits and pieces that can really help you.”

Born in the Bronx and relocated to South Florida at age 4, Lebron feels the New York toughness of his parents, Julio and Gladis, is baked in him on the baseball field.

But off it, he’s a softie, a loving son and sibling to his brothers Jayden and Jadiel and to sister Janelle, a gymnast he freely admits is the best athlete in the family.

It’s the relationship with Jayden, who is two years his junior, that has most influenced his approach to baseball and the profile that comes with it.

“Justin is truly Jayden’s keeper,” says Gladis, “and Jayden is truly Justin’s biggest fan.”

Justin was too young to remember the major, life-saving heart surgery Jayden had at just 2 years old, but he’s seen his brother make the most of his rare condition.

“That guy lives his best life,” Justin says with a smile. “He wants to be a video game engineer, and I think it’s awesome that he found his own thing that he can relate to. My challenge is when I go 0-for-4, and his is like when he has a code go wrong in a game network. And he’ll go ahead and find a way to make it work. It’s kind of cool.”

As his baseball profile grows, Justin plans to stay involved with the Miracle League, to raise more awareness of Williams syndrome and to play the game with the same joy and energy that Jayden does.

“At the end of the day, I’m playing with my brother,” he says. “I’ve got to do everything I can to make him proud.”