Reds 2026 First Round Draft Pick Justin Lebron Joins Dragons
MWL Dayton Dragons

Reds 2026 First Round Draft Pick Justin Lebron Joins Dragons

Published on August 11, 2026 under Midwest League (MWL)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Dayton, Ohio - The Dayton Dragons announced today that Cincinnati Reds 2026 first round draft pick Justin Lebron has been added to the Dragons roster. He is in the Dragons starting lineup tonight to make his professional baseball debut as the team plays in Eastlake, Ohio against the Lake County Captains. Here are today's roster changes:

*Infielder Justin Lebron promoted to Dayton from the ACL Reds

*Right-handed pitcher Ovis Portes activated from the injured list

*Infielder Julio Carreras and right-handed pitcher Victor Diaz promoted from Dayton to Chattanooga (Double-A, Southern League)

Lebron becomes the 22nd "true" first round draft pick (not including supplemental first round and competitive balance first round selections) to play for the Dragons. Every Reds first round pick since 2011 has played for the Dragons except 2025 first rounder Steele Hall, who is currently with the Single-A Daytona Tortugas and is on pace to play for the Dragons sometime in 2027. First round picks in this decade to play for the Dragons have included Chase Burns, Rhett Lowder, Cam Collier, Matt McLain, and Austin Hendrick. Earlier Reds first round picks to play for the Dragons have included, among others, Austin Kearns, Homer Bailey, Jay Bruce, Drew Stubbs, Nick Senzel, Hunter Greene, Jonathan India, and Nick Lodolo.

Lebron was the 18th overall selection of the 2026 draft after playing three seasons at the University of Alabama, where he was a Second Team All-American in both 2025 and '26. He is currently ranked as the Reds #4 prospect by Baseball America. On Baseball America's rankings for "Best Tools" among all college players in the 2026 draft, he ranked #1 on the list for "Best Athlete" and #3 on the list for "Best Defensive Infielder."

In 2026, Lebron was referred to in University of Alabama media publications as "the face of the program that helped lead the Tide to its first Men's College World Series berth since 1999." He appeared in 177 career games, batting .310 with 46 home runs, 157 RBI, and 40 doubles in 685 at-bats with 66 stolen bases. In 2026, he played in 61 games, batting .277 with 16 HR and 42 SB with an OPS of .920. He was the only NCAA Division 1 player in the nation to have at least 16 HR and at least 42 SB in 2026, and the 42 steals led the Southeastern Conference while ranking tied for fifth in the nation. Lebron is a native of Miramar, Florida.

Baseball America Scouting Report on Lebron: "Lebron has a great frame at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds with present strength and quick-twitch actions with his legs and hands. He has plenty of bat speed and can flick the ball out of the park with ease. He also had a solid track record of handling high-end velocity in college, though his production versus fastballs 93 mph and up waned in 2026. See Lebron on the right day and he can look like a franchise player...Lebron has elite supplemental tools...He has plus defensive upside and is a buttery smooth mover in the field with excellent first-step quickness, plus speed and a plus arm. He's an impact runner with an excellent stride who stole 66 bases in 68 career attempts.

The next home game at Day Air Ballpark in the heart of the Water Street District in Tuesday, August 18 against the Quad Cities River Bandits at 7:05 pm. For ticket information, go to daytondragons.com/tickets or call (937) 228-2287.

On the Air: All Dragons home and road games are broadcast on radio on FOX Sports 980 AM WONE. Games can be heard on smart phones, iPads, and other mobile devices via the free Dragons Mobile App, or on a computer at wone.com. Games are also available on HD Radio on 104.7 WTUI HD 2.

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Midwest League Stories from August 11, 2026


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