Kucherak, Lausch Chosen in 2026 MLB Draft – Northwestern Wildcats

EVANSTON, Ill. – INF Ryan Kucherak was chosen within the fifteenth spherical with the 455th total choose by the San Diego Padres, and OF Jack Lausch was chosen within the seventeenth spherical with the 512th total choose by the Cincinnati Reds within the 2026 MLB Draft on Sunday, July 12.

Kucherak and Lausch are the primary Wildcats chosen within the MLB Draft since 2021 (Michael Trautwein, Tyler Uberstine and Shawn Goosenberg). 

Kuch is headed to San Diego!

The @Padres choose @Ryankucherak within the 2026 MLB Draft! pic.twitter.com/f8MxqIy7sZ

— Northwestern Baseball (@NUCatsBaseball) July 12, 2026

Kucherak earned All-Big Ten honors after a standout junior season in Evanston. The Chandler, Ariz., product led all ‘Cats in walks (27) and ranked second on the crew in batting common (.295), doubles (13) and RBI (39).

With 10 house runs in 2026, Kucherak’s profession house run depend rose to twenty-eight, which is tied for fifth in NU program historical past after simply two years at Northwestern. Kucherak is the primary Wildcat to report double-digit house runs in consecutive seasons since Stephen Hrustich did so in 2021-22.

Lausch is headed to Cincinnati!

The @Reds choose @jack_lausch within the 2026 MLB Draft! pic.twitter.com/DTfRdb0Bzz

— Northwestern Baseball (@NUCatsBaseball) July 12, 2026

In a standout senior marketing campaign that noticed him earn All-Big Ten recognition, Lausch led all Wildcats in batting common (.312), on-base proportion (.393), slugging proportion (.653), runs (52), hits (63), triples (4), house runs (16), runs batted in (41) and complete bases (132). Lausch’s 16 house runs and 132 complete bases this season each rank second in program historical past. He is the primary Wildcat to steer the crew in batting common and residential runs since Shawn Goosenberg in 2021.

Lausch spent his first three years at Northwestern enjoying soccer earlier than becoming a member of the baseball program in his junior 12 months, changing into NU’s first football-baseball dual-sport athlete since Dan Kubiuk in 2015-16. In 2024, he tallied 1,714 passing yards, 213 dashing yards and 9 complete touchdowns whereas beginning 10 video games at quarterback for Northwestern as a redshirt sophomore.

The Chicago native was additionally chosen as a Big Ten Outstanding Sportsmanship Award recipient, representing all Northwestern male student-athletes. Earlier this season, he was voted by his teammates because the recipient of the 2026 Paul Stevens Life Teammate Award. The Paul Stevens Life Teammate Award is introduced yearly to the Northwestern baseball senior who greatest embodies the spirit of a Life Teammate – a pacesetter on the sector, within the locker room and locally. As the recipient of the 2026 Paul Stevens Life Teammate Award, Lausch wore #13 for the 2026 season, commemorating the lifetime of Will Trautwein, son of former Northwestern Baseball participant John Trautwein and brother of former Wildcat Michael Trautwein. 

Kucherak turns into the fourth ‘Cat chosen by the Padres group, and the primary since 2002, becoming a member of Bob Brucato (1988), Carmen Bucci (1995) and Gabe Ribas (2002). Lausch is the fourth NU participant to be chosen by the Reds group, becoming a member of Dennis Trompeter (1977), John Stewart (1986) and Michael Trautwein (2021).