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Former Clemson left-handed heat thrower selected in 2026 MLB Draft
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- Former Clemson left-handed heat thrower selected in 2026 MLB Draft
Justin LeGuernic is headed to professional baseball after the Kansas City Royals selected the Clemson left-hander with the No. 180 overall pick in the sixth round of the 2026 MLB Draft on Sunday.
LeGuernic became the Tigers ' third player selected in this year's draft, joining Aidan Knaak and Blake Bryant. The pick carries a slot value of $367,600 before any bonus pool adjustments. He was also invited to participate in the MLB Draft Combine before this year's draft.
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The Dix Hills, New York, native spent three seasons at Clemson and saved his best baseball for his junior campaign. Used primarily as a long reliever while also seeing time in late-inning situations, LeGuernic posted a 4-2 record with a 4.69 ERA in 19 appearances. He logged 40.1 innings, struck out 50 batters and recorded 10 scoreless outings, giving Clemson a reliable power arm out of the bullpen.
His two highest strikeout games came against Army West Point and Boston College, when he fanned six batters in each outing. His 50 strikeouts ranked third on the team behind Aidan Knaak and Michael Sharman.
LeGuernic's Clemson career began in 2024 when he made nine appearances and one start as a freshman. He followed with an expanded role in 2025, making 12 appearances, including six starts. Although the results were inconsistent, one of his best performances came against rival South Carolina, when he tossed four scoreless innings with six strikeouts to help Clemson complete a series sweep.
Across three seasons, LeGuernic developed into one of the hardest throwers on the Tigers' pitching staff. His fastball climbed into the upper 90s during the 2026 season, helping establish him as one of Clemson's top bullpen arms. While the NCAA's new "5-in-5" eligibility rule would have allowed him to return for another season, the left-hander instead begins his professional career with Kansas City .
LeGuernic also continued Clemson's recent success developing professional pitchers. He became the seventh Tiger pitcher or pitching signee selected in the first seven rounds over the past three MLB Drafts and the 11th ACC pitcher chosen in this year's draft.
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Scouts consider LeGuernic's sweeping slider to be his best pitch, pairing it with a fastball that sits in the mid-90s and touches 98 mph. His low arm slot creates additional deception, making him a difficult matchup for hitters. While refining his command and changeup will be important as he moves through the minor leagues, his power arsenal gives him the potential to develop into a high-leverage reliever and possibly even a starter if his secondary pitches continue to improve.
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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Former Clemson left-handed heat thrower selected in 2026 MLB Draft
