Alabama baseball star Justin Lebron is reportedly staying put after helping the Crimson Tide to their best regular season finish in over 20 years.
According to a report from Jake Mckeever of College Baseball Report, Lebron will return to Tuscaloosa for his junior season in 2026 “despite rumors of (transfer) portal entrance and tampering.”
The 20-year-old shortstop, who came to Alabama from Archbishop Edward McCarthy High School in Southwest Ranches, Fla., is one of three players who won’t be leaving their respective SEC schools for another program via the transfer portal, Mckeever reported. Kentucky Wildcats shortstop Tyler Bell and Mississippi State third baseman Ace Reese are the two others.
Lebron has been a foundational piece for Rob Vaughn in his first two seasons as the Crimson Tide’s head coach. He batted .319 with a team-high 18 home runs and 72 RBIs to go with 18 doubles and 17 stolen bases this past season. Lebron started all 58 games as Alabama went 41-18 overall, recording its first 40-win regular season since 2002.
Lebron, a potential No. 1 overall pick in next year’s MLB draft, led the SEC in RBIs and was tied for third in the conference in doubles with MSU’s Reese and Texas Longhorns shortstop Jalin Flores. Lebron placed 10th in the SEC in both home runs and stolen bases and was a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award in 2025.
Neither Lebron nor Yea Alabama, the school’s official NIL entity, have made an official announcement but could do so in the coming days. The entity has made several announcements regarding Alabama athletes and scheduling news, including the recent decision by Crimson Tide basketball guard Labaron Philon to forgo the NBA draft.
Vaughn will be returning to Alabama in 2026 after signing a contract extension following reports linking him to the Texas A&M job. The Aggies fired Michael Earley after only one season.
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