​Former LSU baseball catcher Brady Neal was chosen in the eighth round of the 2026 MLB Draft. The Cincinnati Reds selected him with the 242nd overall pick in the eighth round on Sunday, with a slot value assigned at $229,700 for that selection. Neal wore LSU colors earlier in his college career, playing for the Tigers in 2023 and 2024 before transferring to Alabama for his final two seasons of collegiate baseball.
Across his college tenure, Neal posted career numbers that include a .269 batting average, an .887 OPS, 140 hits, 122 runs scored, and 110 RBIs. In his senior season with the Crimson Tide, he emerged as the primary catcher and delivered his strongest offensive performance to date. Neal started 58 games and ranked among the leaders in most key offensive statistics throughout the year. He led Alabama with a .970 OPS, a .541 slugging percentage, a .429 on-base percentage, and 51 RBIs during the 2026 season.
A native of Tallahassee, Florida, Neal was part of LSU’s 2023 national championship team as a freshman before transferring to Alabama for his final two collegiate seasons. This article originally appeared on LSU Wire and highlighted Neal’s milestone after his transfer, noting the long-term impact of his development and performance.