​LAWRENCE, Kan. — Kansas baseball has another alumnus headed for the pros after Brady Ballinger was selected No. 216 overall in the 2026 MLB Draft, marking the third Jayhawks player chosen this year. The Detroit Tigers drafted Ballinger, a junior infielder/outfielder who played for KU this past season, in the seventh round. Ballinger joined the program ahead of the 2025 campaign as a transfer from the College of Southern Nevada and quickly earned a share of All-America recognitions that year as KU advanced to the NCAA tournament. He stayed productive in 2026, contributing to the Jayhawks’ continued ascent and helping the program build on previous success.
Ballinger’s impact went beyond personal accolades; he played a pivotal role on a Kansas squad that captured both the Big 12 Conference regular-season and tournament titles, and then secured hosting rights for the Lawrence Regional. KU advanced to the NCAA tournament super regional, where their season ultimately came to a close. Ballinger earned honorable mention on the All-Big 12 team and was named to the all-tournament team for the Lawrence Regional.
During the 2026 campaign, Ballinger started 59 of his 60 appearances, posting a .283 batting average with 63 hits, 45 RBIs, and seven home runs. His body of work demonstrated consistency and versatility, factors that should serve him well as he transitions to the professional level and seeks to make an impact in the Tigers’ system.
The 2026 season also highlighted Ballinger’s leadership and reliability as Kansas continued to compete at a high level. In front of a loyal fan base at Hoglund Ballpark, Ballinger contributed to a season that reinforced KU’s reputation as a program capable of contending for conference titles and advancing deep into postseason play.
This report was prepared by Jordan Guskey, who covers the University of Kansas Athletics for The Topeka Capital-Journal. Guskey has a long history with Kansas sports coverage, including his recognition as the 2022 National Sports Media Association sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas. He can be reached at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey. This article originally appeared on the Topeka Capital-Journal under the title Kansas baseball’s Brady Ballinger picked by Detroit in 2026 MLB Draft for better SEO.