As the final rounds of the 2021 Major League Baseball Draft wound down, JD McLaughlin assumed he would be heading back to school in Arizona for the following season.

Then a Detroit Tigers draft post showed up on his phone.  

“I was looking at the Twitter notifications that pop up.” McLaughlin said. “Sure enough, I see, ‘20th round, Tigers select outfielder.’ I was like ‘Wait, Central? That’s our school. Who just got drafted?’ I kept reading the tweet, and it was me.” 

A few minutes later, the call came. 

The moment marked another stop in a baseball journey that had already taken a few unexpected turns. 

Long before professional baseball, though, McLaughlin was simply the oldest of four competitive siblings in Mesa, Arizona. 

His younger brother, Trent played basketball at Northern Arizona and now plays professionally in Lithuania. His youngest brother, Alex, is a safety at the University of Washington, and rounding out the family is Macey, who enters her senior year as a volleyball standout.  

Competition was just part of growing up as a McLaughlin. 

“It could have been video games, basketball in the backyard. It just didn't matter,” McLaughlin said. “We were more competitive at home than we were out, because you didn't want to lose and have to run into each other for the rest of the day.” 

While his siblings found different sports, baseball became JD’s path. 

He committed to Oregon State as a sophomore in high school under legendary coach Pat Casey, but Casey retired after the Beavers 2018 championship run. His freshman season at Oregon State under Mitch Canham was shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading McLaughlin to return home and play at Central Arizona College. 

“I wanted to go back to that level and prove that I belonged,” McLaughlin said. “I had a really good year and ended up getting drafted, which was something I wasn’t even thinking of.” 

After Detroit selected McLaughlin, he spent parts of three seasons in the organization, climbing as high as the Triple-A Toledo. 

Things moved quickly for McLaughlin. Before long he found himself around players he had watched on television each night. 

“One of my first at-bats was against Tarik Skubal,” McLaughlin said. “You learn pretty quick that they're human too, but they're really good at what they do.” 

The biggest lesson wasn't about talent. It was the preparation professional players brought every day. 

“They have a plan for everything that they do,” McLaughlin said. “They don't just do things. They have a reason to do them.” 

In March 2024, the Toledo Mud Hens released McLaughlin, and he wasn’t sure what came next. 

He reached out to a former teammate Kingston Liniak, who had spent time with the Glacier Range Riders from 2023-2025. Liniak spoke highly of the organization, facilities, and atmosphere at Glacier Bank Park. Later that day, Range Riders coach Stu Pederson called. 

McLaughlin was on his way to Kalispell. 

The 25-year-old is now in his third season with Glacier. Through 49 games played this season, he is batting .280 with 53 hits, 12 doubles, and three homers. He has driven in 28 runs, scored 38 and stolen 17 bases with a .386 on-base percentage. 

It’s the all-around approach that has carried McLaughlin for his entire baseball career. 

“The ability to do multiple things across the field is what I’ve always taken pride in,” McLaughlin said. “You don’t want to be just a stagnant guy who can only do one thing. Being able to contribute on the bases, or defense, or maybe sneak in an RBI here or there, being able to contribute in different ways is what I take the most pride in.” 

The biggest change for McLaughlin wasn’t physical; it was mental. 

“Growing up, you’re the best player in your area. You dominate,” he said. “Then going off into these other leagues and better leagues, the competition is that much better. It's trying to find out, 'How am I going to compete and be a valuable piece of this team instead of just sinking against the competition?'” 

It’s the same mindset he sees in his siblings. 

Trent found a professional career despite not fitting the typical NBA mold. JD explained that Alex has continued proving people wrong after being overlooked because of his size, while Macey has battled back from multiple wrist injuries. 

“They just keep going at it,” McLaughlin said. “They never quit.” 

Today, the siblings are scattered, but they still keep tabs on one another. They celebrate each other’s successes and check in whenever the athletic schedule lightens. But of course, they continue to push one another to chase the next opportunity. 

Even though the backyard games have long ended, the competition never did. 

Reporter Luke Schmit can be reached at 406-758-4441 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support. 

    Glacier's JD McLaughlin (7) gets high-fives in the dugout after scoring in the second inning against the RedPocket Mobiles at Glacier Bank Park on Tuesday, June 23. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider