CINCINNATI — The Reds and their 2026 first-round selection, shortstop Justin Lebron, wasted little time getting a deal done. Cincinnati signed Lebron on Thursday and gave him an over-slot bonus of $5 million, according to a source.
The bonus slot value for the No. 18 pick is $4,695,500.
Lebron, 21, was selected on Saturday out of the University of Alabama. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound right-handed hitter batted .277 with a .932 OPS, 16 homers and 48 RBIs in 59 games as he helped Alabama get to the 2026 College World Series, the program’s first since 1999.
It was not immediately known at which level Lebron will begin his professional career in the Reds organization. Most new Draft picks for the club usually head to the club's Spring Training complex in Goodyear, Ariz., first before joining a club for games.
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Cincinnati also signed its Competitive Balance Round B selection, outfielder Mulivai Levu, a junior out of UCLA, for $1,097,500. It was below the slot value of $1,223,100.
Including Lebron and Levu, a total of 14 Reds picks have been signed. They are:
Third round: RHP Tyner Horn
Fourth round: LHP Ethan Norby
Seventh round: SS Sherman Johnson
Eighth round: C Brady Neal
Ninth round: OF Damian Ruiz
10th round: RHP Connor Griffin
11th round: RHP Calvin Proskey
12th round: RHP Brodie Purcell
14th round: RHP Raymond Ladd
16th round: RHP Victor Christal
17th round: OF Jack Lausch
20th round: RHP Tristan Helmick