Tyson LeBlanc made history over the weekend.
The former LSU Eunice and North Vermilion High standout heard his name came off the board in the first day of the 2026 MLB Draft. LeBlanc, who helped lead the Kansas Jayhawks to historic success this season, was selected by the Detroit Tigers with the 61st overall pick on Saturday.
LeBlanc becomes the highest draft pick in LSU Eunice history and the 63rd player in Bengals history to have been drafted or signed by a Major League Baseball organization.
It is a fitting cap to a sensational season playing for the Kansas Jayhawks.
The 6-foot, 200-pound LeBlanc helped Kansas claim the Big 12 regular season and tournament championships. He hit .341 with 87 hits, 69 RBI, 11 stolen bases, and had a program record 25 home runs, which was tied for eighth nationally.
LeBlanc was selected as the Big 12 Tournament Most Outstanding Player for going 8-for-13, with two home runs, and 7 RBI. He followed that up by being named Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Lawrence Regional when he went 5-for-11 with three home runs, 8 RBI, and four walks.
LeBlanc also becomes the highest drafted position player in Kansas baseball history.
LeBlanc arrived at Kansas after two successful seasons playing on the Cajun Prairie for LSUE.
In 119 games for the Bengals, LeBlanc batted .367 with 39 doubles, eight triples, 15 home runs, a program-best 132 RBIs, 132 runs, 74 walks, and 73 stolen bases. He earned NJCAA Division I All-America third-team honors in 2025 and ABCA/Rawlings NJCAA Division I All-America third-team honors that same year.
In 2024, he helped the Bengals to an NJCAA Division II National Championship.
LeBlanc was a standout at North Vermilion High, playing four years for the Patriots. He earned all-state honors three times, was selected as the Class 4A Hitter of the Year, batted .460 in his career, and helped the school to a pair of district titles and a state championship in 2021.
