When Jack Lausch, the 2021 Daily Southtown Football Player of the Year, made the decision to pursue that sport in college and committed to play quarterback at Northwestern, the Brother Rice graduate didn’t close the door on baseball.
Lausch, who was originally recruited by Notre Dame for baseball before having a late change of heart when Northwestern offered a football scholarship, kept his options open mentally.
“Baseball was always in the back of my mind,” Lausch said. “I wanted to see how far football would go, and if baseball was going to be the thing, it would come back to me. I never ruled it out.”
It’s a good thing he didn’t.
Lausch, who joined the Northwestern baseball team last spring after two years away from the sport, was chosen by the Cincinnati Reds on July 12 in the 17th round with the 512th overall pick of the MLB draft.
“It’s a dream come true,” Lausch said. “It’s awesome to have a shot. That’s all you can ask for is to have a shot to keep getting better and hopefully one day be a big leaguer.
Northwestern’s Jack Lausch (13) looks to make contact against Oregon during the final game of a Big Ten series in Eugene, Oregon, on Sunday, March 22, 2026. (Amanda Loman / AP)
“It was a moment where you realize all the years of hard work are coming through, and it’s one of the sports moments where you know you’ve been doing things right.”
Lausch was confident he would be picked during the second day of the draft, which lasted 20 rounds, but the wait was certainly nerve-wracking.
The Reds put that to rest and sparked a celebration.
“There was a lot of waiting by the phone, wondering when it was going to be and who it was going to be,” Lausch said. “After I got picked, it was just awesome to celebrate with family and friends.
Northwestern quarterback Jack Lausch (12) takes the snap against Indiana in the third quarter of a Big Ten game at Martin Stadium in Evanston on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
“It was just a really nice day.”
Brother Rice coach Sean McBride wasn’t surprised to see Lausch’s athletic path take him back to baseball.
“What a journey, right?” McBride said. “There was a lot of uncertainty out of high school with what he was going to choose. I knew football was kind of his first love. He’s a smart kid and I think he knew, ‘Let’s try this football thing and I can always keep baseball in the back pocket.’
“Then he comes back and does the Jack Lausch thing. He’s a special kid and a competitor. What’s always stood out with him is his self-belief. I’m really excited to see him get a shot.”
Brother Rice’s Jack Lausch connects on a pitch against Marist during a nonconference game in Chicago on Sunday, May 15, 2022. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown).
Lausch played both football and baseball during his redshirt sophomore season at Northwestern in 2024-25, starting 10 games at quarterback before cracking the starting lineup in 43 of 44 games during his first college baseball season.
That summer, he decided it was time to commit to baseball.
“I knew other people had been playing baseball year-round and I had to go all in or I’d always be behind,” Lausch said. “It was really hard. I built so many great relationships with the football team, and stepping away from anything you’ve put so much time and effort into is hard.
“But it was all for the opportunity that I have now.”
Brother Rice’s Jack Lausch (3) delivers a pitch against Edwardsville during a Class 4A state semifinal game at Slammers Stadium in Joliet on Friday, June 10, 2022. (Mike Mantucca / Daily Southtown)
This spring, Lausch led Northwestern in batting average (.312), homers (16) and RBIs (41).
Lausch’s selection was part of a huge week for Brother Rice baseball. Zion Rose was drafted by the Kansas City Royals with the sixth overall pick, while Luke Lawrence signed with the Chicago White Sox as a free agent. Brady Cunningham won the MLB High School Home Run Derby.
Lausch is now in Arizona for rookie camp as he awaits his first minor-league assignment. He can’t wait to get going.
“It’ll definitely be a moment where I’m going to take it all in,” Lausch said. “I want to enjoy it and have fun, but I also want to go out there and show people what I can do and that I’m here for a reason.”