​The Cincinnati Reds stuck to their plan in the 2026 MLB Draft, selecting standout athletes at premium positions, mostly shortstops, who have upside at the plate.“The best player on the field when you’re 8 years old is the shortstop,” Reds scouting director Katuska said. “It’s the best player in high school. Usually, it’s the best player in college. With our focus on getting the best player available, it probably leads toward shortstop a little more.”AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Reds’ first pick, No. 18 overall, was Alabama shortstop Justin Lebron. He’s a dynamic athlete who swiped 42 bases this season at Alabama, and he was only caught once. He has the range to make highlight plays defensively, and he has great power for his position.The big question for Lebron, who posted a mere a .741 OPS in the SEC, is how much his hit tool is going to develop.“We believe in our development, and we believe in his physical ability,” Katuska said.“We think he can make the adjustments necessary moving forward. The makeup, the grind that he has to him, he’s ready for this. He knows he has to make adjustments and make corrections moving forward. We think he’s fully prepared for it.”AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLebron is used to the spotlight. He has been followed this year for an MLB documentary about the paths of different prospects.The Reds rave about his intangibles, and Lebron paid for teammates’ parents to watch their kids play at Alabama this year.He’s eager to be with the Reds.“I’m excited to be a part of such a great program,” Lebron said. “I’m ready to get to work to see what I can bring to the table.”The Reds’ best value in the draft was second-round pick Eric Becker, who the Reds viewed as a first rounder. Becker, a shortstop out of Virginia, is a very advanced hitter and had great college production.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“He’s a very well-rounded baseball player,” Katuska said. “People sleep on some of his tools a bit because of how even it is across the board. He can hit.”Starting the draft with two shortstops fits the Reds’ recent draft trends. The Reds are one of five teams who since the 2023 draft have selected a shortstop in the top-two rounds every single year (also, the Tigers, Rays, Diamondbacks and White Sox). Lebron and Becker join prospects in the organization like Leo Balcazar, Carlos Sanchez, Tyson Lewis and 2025 first-round pick Steele Hall as notable shortstops in the Reds’ system.Day 2 of the draft for the Reds including some fascinating picks.Thirteenth-round pick Kenny Ishikawa was born in Hawaii and spent a lot of his childhood in Japan. He played college baseball at Georgia and was a two-way player. He hit .336 this season while playing in the SEC. A foot injury derailed his season on the mound, but the Reds are very excited about his ability as a pitcher.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“He really wasn’t able to get on tr