Reds 1st-rounder Lebron stays HOT with 4th homer in just 8 professional games

Justin Lebron has certainly taken to the Minor Leagues after the Reds made him the 18th overall pick in this summer’s Draft.

Lebron clubbed his fourth homer in his past five games on Thursday, giving him at least one hit in six of his first eight professional games. The Reds’ No. 3 prospect also doubled, his fifth game thus far with multiple hits.

Lebron’s 2-for-4 day out of the leadoff spot helped High-A Dayton to a 7-1 win over Quad Cities at Day Air Ballpark.

The 21-year-old shortstop jumpstarted a four-run third inning for the Dragons. He doubled to left field with one out and later scored on a Tyson Lewis single. Lebron added on in the fourth, crushing a two-out homer to right-center field, just over the 402-foot marker.

The second-highest drafted player to come out of Alabama, Lebron is slashing an excellent .353/.371/.794 to begin his career. He was once seen as the potential No. 1 overall pick in this year’s Draft, though an uneven junior campaign in Tuscaloosa allowed the Reds to capitalize at pick No. 18. He signed a bit over slot value at just under $5 million.

And Lebron has certainly put all of his tools on display in the early going. His 60-grade power has led to the four homers, while 70-grade speed has helped him swipe two bases thus far and stretch a trio of doubles.

"I feel like one of my biggest things when it comes to playing baseball is to strike fear into your opponents' eyes, and whenever I get in the box, I want the pitcher to look at me and say, 'I don’t want to face him or let him get on base because he's going to cause havoc,'" Lebron said after hitting his first home run. "I've trained with that mentality my whole life and I continue to work day in and day out to be that type of player."