John Lemm Becomes Fifth Alabama Player to Sign with MLB Team

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama celebrated its fifth player being picked up by an MLB organization since the draft started, as catcher John Lemm signed with the St. Louis Cardinals as an undrafted free agent on Monday.

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Lemm, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound right-handed catcher, spent one season with Alabama after transferring from Southern Illinois and quickly became a key contributor to a Crimson Tide team that made its first College World Series appearance since 1999.

The Brisbane, Australia, native played a vital role in Alabama’s lineup, appearing in 55 games and batting .253, with 34 RBIs and 10 home runs. His offensive production played a big factor in the Tide’s run to the College World Series in 2026.

Lemm was also excellent behind the plate for Alabama in 2026. He posted a .987 fielding percentage, committed just four errors in 34 starts at catcher, and threw out seven baserunners attempting to steal.

Lemm began his collegiate career at South Suburban Community College, then caught the attention of Southern Illinois, where he thrived in his junior season, recording 19 home runs and a .620 slugging percentage, which caught the attention of Rob Vaughn and his coaching staff.

The former Alabama catcher becomes the fifth Crimson Tide player to sign with an MLB team, joining draftees Justin Lebron (18th overall), Tyler Fay (169th overall), Zane Adams (171st overall), and Brady Neal (242nd overall). He is also the first undrafted Alabama player to be signed since the draft concluded on Sunday.

Micah Nichols covers Alabama baseball, football, and basketball for Tide100.9. Follow @Micahnichols0 on X for in-game updates, highlights, and more Crimson Tide content.