Jack Lausch and Ryan Kucherak celebrate a home runJack Lausch and Ryan Kucherak celebrate a home run
Luke Meinhardt/Northwestern Athl

Kucherak, Lausch Selected in 2026 MLB Draft

EVANSTON, Ill. – INF Ryan Kucherak was selected in the 15th round with the 455th overall pick by the San Diego Padres, and OF Jack Lausch was chosen in the 17th round with the 512th overall pick by the Cincinnati Reds in the 2026 MLB Draft on Sunday, July 12.

Kucherak and Lausch are the first Wildcats selected in the MLB Draft since 2021 (Michael Trautwein, Tyler Uberstine and Shawn Goosenberg). 

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 team in batting average (.295), doubles (13) and RBI (39).

With 10 home runs in 2026, Kucherak's career home run count rose to 28, which is tied for fifth in NU program history after just two years at Northwestern. Kucherak is the first Wildcat to record double-digit home runs in consecutive seasons since Stephen Hrustich did so in 2021-22.

In a standout senior campaign that saw him earn All-Big Ten recognition, Lausch led all Wildcats in batting average (.312), on-base percentage (.393), slugging percentage (.653), runs (52), hits (63), triples (4), home runs (16), runs batted in (41) and total bases (132). Lausch's 16 home runs and 132 total bases this season both rank second in program history. He is the first Wildcat to lead the team in batting average and home runs since Shawn Goosenberg in 2021.

Lausch spent his first three years at Northwestern playing football before joining the baseball program in his junior year, becoming NU’s first football-baseball dual-sport athlete since Dan Kubiuk in 2015-16. In 2024, he tallied 1,714 passing yards, 213 rushing yards and nine total touchdowns while starting 10 games at quarterback for Northwestern as a redshirt sophomore.

The Chicago native was also selected as a Big Ten Outstanding Sportsmanship Award recipient, representing all Northwestern male student-athletes. Earlier this season, he was voted by his teammates as the recipient of the 2026 Paul Stevens Life Teammate Award. The Paul Stevens Life Teammate Award is presented annually to the Northwestern baseball senior who best embodies the spirit of a Life Teammate - a leader on the field, in the locker room and in the community. As the recipient of the 2026 Paul Stevens Life Teammate Award, Lausch wore #13 for the 2026 season, commemorating the life of Will Trautwein, son of former Northwestern Baseball player John Trautwein and brother of former Wildcat Michael Trautwein. 

Kucherak becomes the fourth ‘Cat selected by the Padres organization, and the first since 2002, joining Bob Brucato (1988), Carmen Bucci (1995) and Gabe Ribas (2002). Lausch is the fourth NU player to be selected by the Reds organization, joining Dennis Trompeter (1977), John Stewart (1986) and Michael Trautwein (2021).