TicketsCINCINNATI – Right-handed pitcher Jack Slightom was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the second round of the 2026 MLB Draft on Saturday.
Slightom signed with the Cincinnati baseball program as part of its 2026 recruiting class.
“While we would have loved to have Jack don a Cincinnati uniform, we are incredibly excited for him to start his professional career,” head coach Jordan Bischel said. “Jack is a great example of the type of student-athlete that is currently committing to be a Bearcat.”
Slightom was 7-0 with a microscopic 0.30 ERA this past season at Lyons Township High School (IL), punching out 87 hitters in 45.1 innings pitched. He allowed just two earned runs all season long while walking just nine.
Cincinnati’s 2026 recruiting class is the best in school history, ranking No. 21 nationally by Baseball America and No. 24 by Perfect Game. UC was Baseball America’s highest-ranked Big 12 class.
ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel had Slightom ranked No. 60 in his latest draft rankings, and MLB Pipeline had him No. 89.
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