The Kansas Jayhawks are still relatively fresh off of what could be considered the greatest season in Kansas Baseball history. Sure, we aren’t talking about one of the nation’s most historic programs when we talk about KU baseball, but under Dan Fitzgerald, the consistent level that the Jayhawks have shown is some of the best in the nation.
After a 25-32 rebuilding season in 2023, Fitzgerald has orchestrated records of 31-23, 43-17 and 45-18, which was most recently capped off with a trip to the Super Regionals before falling to eventual national champions, the Oklahoma Sooners.
While things haven’t been perfect and there have been the occasional slip-up here and there, the consensus has quickly become that Fitzgerald is an elite coach and one of the best the game has to offer at the college level.
If you needed any further proof of that, look no further than the 2026 MLB Draft. As of publishing, the Jayhakws have had three players selected in shortstop Tyson LeBlanc (Round 2, No. 61 overall to the Detroit Tigers), pitcher Dominic Voegele (Round 3, No. 82 overall to the Baltimore Orioles) and Brady Ballenger (Round 7, No. 216 to the Detroit Tigers).
The trio only proves the steps forward KU has taken under Fitzgerald
LeBlanc spent his 2026 campaign breaking records left and right. In just one season, LeBlanc notched 25 homers, setting a single-season school record, while also being the first First Team All-American in 20 years from Kansas. LeBlanc finished the season with a .341 batting average to go along with 87 hits, 69 RBI, 64 runs and 180 bases, the second most in one season for Kansas.
LeBlanc’s selection at No. 61 makes him the highest-selected position player in school history, and the second-highest overall behind former pitcher Curtis Shaw in 1990, who went 42nd overall.
“Tyson is a special player but an even better human being," Fitzgerald said in a press release this weekend. "Detroit got a guy who's going to be a leader in their organization for a long time. Tyson is the most complete competitor I've ever coached and left an incredible imprint on KU Baseball."
Voegele, meanwhile, finished his career at KU with 289 career strikeouts, the second most in program history and most over the course of three seasons. Having been with Fitzgerald with so much of the rebuild, he called Voegele an “all-time great Jayhawk.”
"Dom carried us on the mound for three years. He never missed a start and never missed an opportunity to make the people around him better. Dom is incredibly gifted and is just getting started. I can't wait to watch his career. He's an all-time great Jayhawk."
Ballinger ended his two-year stint with KU with an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention nod to go along with a .283 batting average that went with 45 RBI and seven home runs and 63 hits. Ballinger was also rock solid on defense, finishing with a stellar .993 fielding percentage.
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