Leblanc's Historic MLB Draft
Tyson Leblanc Becomes Highest MLB Draft Pick from LSU-Eunice, Joins Detroit Tigers
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Tyson Leblanc, a former North Vermilion High School and LSU-Eunice baseball player, has been selected by the Detroit Tigers in the 2026 MLB Draft, according to Des Moines Register. He was picked 61st overall, making him the highest MLB Draft pick ever to come out of North Vermilion's program.
Leblanc was rated the 113th best overall prospect heading into the draft. His pick at No. 61 carries a projected slot value of $1.52 million, Cincinnati.com reported.
Leblanc Sets a New Bar for North Vermilion Baseball
No player from North Vermilion's program had ever been drafted this high before Leblanc. His selection at No. 61 overall is a milestone for the Bengals, a Louisiana high school program not known for producing top MLB Draft talent. Leblanc is the first North Vermilion alum to go in the first two rounds of the MLB Draft, according to Times Record News.
Leblanc also played at LSU-Eunice, a junior college in Louisiana. His time there helped boost his draft stock well above his pre-draft ranking of 113th. Rising that far from a projected spot shows how strong his performance was in the leadup to the draft.
Tigers Land Leblanc with $1.52 Million Slot Pick
Detroit used the 61st overall pick to grab Leblanc, a selection that comes with a projected slot value of $1.52 million. The Tigers get a player who outperformed his pre-draft ranking by a wide margin. Scouts had him 113th overall, but Detroit moved on him much earlier, according to News-Journal Online.
Landing a player that high above his consensus ranking can signal the team sees tools or traits other evaluators missed. For the Tigers, who are building a young core, adding a local standout with upside fits their current approach to player development.
First Pick of the 2026 Draft Class Comes Early
Leblanc's selection marks the first pick of the 2026 MLB Draft for the Tigers. The 2026 draft class is just getting started, and Detroit wasted no time making a splash with a player from small-school Louisiana, according to Salina Journal.
His path from North Vermilion to LSU-Eunice to the MLB Draft shows how junior college baseball can serve as a springboard. Players who might be overlooked out of high school often use the junior college route to develop and earn a higher draft spot.
What Leblanc's Rise Means for Small Louisiana Programs
North Vermilion is not a traditional baseball powerhouse. Leblanc's rise to a top-65 MLB Draft pick puts the program on the map in a new way. For future players at North Vermilion, his path shows that a pro career is possible even from smaller Louisiana schools, according to Examiner-Enterprise.
LSU-Eunice also benefits from the attention. Junior colleges across Louisiana often produce pro talent, but a top-65 pick draws a spotlight that can help with recruiting and program visibility for years to come.
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