NL Central 2026 draft report cards: Cardinals load up; Reds bet on Lebron’s upside

Key Points:

• The Chicago Cubs focused on pitching in their 2026 draft class, selecting Mississippi right-hander Cade Townsend first overall despite concerns about his slender frame and workload; the class includes several college pitchers with starter upside and a few high school arms with potential.
• The Cincinnati Reds opened with high-upside but risky Alabama shortstop Justin Lebron, who has plus tools but contact issues, then drafted several college players offering more certainty of major-league value, including versatile infielders and pitchers with potential as starters or relievers.
• The Milwaukee Brewers took Corona High School shortstop Trey Ebel in the first round, valuing his hit tool and instincts, while adding a balanced mix of college arms and position players, including outfielder Sawyer Strosnider with a strong swing and right-hander Julian Garcia with promising velocity and breaking pitches.
• The Pittsburgh Pirates prioritized strong college bats early, such as LSU outfielder Derek Curiel with excellent contact skills and New York high school shortstop Aiden Ruiz with plus defense, complemented by a mix of young pitchers with varying upside and some high school talent with potential.
• The St. Louis Cardinals leveraged extra draft picks to build a deep and balanced class highlighted by high-upside high school shortstop Rocco Maniscalco, SEC-dominant right-hander Tegan Kuhns, and power-contact outfielder Andrew Williamson, along with several pitchers showing promise as starters or relievers.