Jack Lausch, named the 2021 Daily Southtown Football Player of the Year, made a significant decision to pursue football in college by committing to play quarterback at Northwestern. Despite this, the Brother Rice graduate kept baseball as a possibility in the back of his mind. Initially recruited by Notre Dame for baseball, Lausch eventually chose Northwestern thanks to a football scholarship offer. He expressed an openness to return to baseball if the opportunity arose. ‘I wanted to see how far football would go, and if baseball was going to be the thing, it would come back to me,’ Lausch stated. ‘I never ruled it out.’

Lausch’s foresight paid off as the Cincinnati Reds selected him in the 17th round of the MLB draft with the 512th overall pick. Lausch shared his excitement, saying, ‘It’s a dream come true. 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.’ His selection marked the culmination of years of hard work, signifying that he had been on the right path.

During the MLB draft, which spans 20 rounds, anticipation for Lausch’s pick was intense. ‘There was a lot of waiting by the phone, wondering when it was going to be and who it was going to be,’ Lausch recalled. Celebrating with family and friends after getting picked was a joyful moment for him.

Brother Rice coach Sean McBride reflected on Lausch’s journey. He remarked, ‘What a journey, right? 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.’ Lausch’s competitive nature and self-belief have been notable traits.

In his redshirt sophomore season at Northwestern during 2024-25, Lausch played both football and baseball. He started 10 games at quarterback, later joining Northwestern’s baseball team as a regular in the lineup for 43 of 44 games. Ultimately, he decided to focus solely on baseball, understanding the necessity of full commitment to meet the demands of baseball. ‘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,’ said Lausch.

Lausch excelled in baseball, leading Northwestern in batting average (.312), home runs (16), and RBIs (41) last spring. His selection rounded off a triumphant week for Brother Rice baseball, alongside Zion Rose’s draft by the Kansas City Royals and Luke Lawrence’s signing with the Chicago White Sox.

Currently, Lausch is in Arizona for rookie camp, eagerly waiting for his minor league assignment. ‘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,’ Lausch expressed, looking forward to the next chapter.