SPORTS

Minnesota drafts Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey third

PUBLISHED Jul 12, 2026, 3:08 AM ET

Read, Watch or Listen

Minnesota, United States, selected Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey with the third overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft on Sunday, July 12, 2026, giving the Twins their highest draft position since choosing Royce Lewis first overall in 2017. Lackey, a 21-year-old, 6-foot-2 catcher, entered the draft as a consensus top-three elite prospect alongside Roch Cholowsky and Grady Emerson, and evaluators widely viewed him as one of the most complete players available. The Twins added a player regarded for a rare blend of gold-glove caliber defensive ability behind the plate and the kind of middle-of-the-order offensive power that teams typically struggle to find at the catcher position. By choosing Lackey, Minnesota also tapped into Georgia Tech’s long-running “Catcher U” tradition, placing him in a first-round lineage that includes former Yellow Jackets Jason Varitek, Matt Wieters, Joey Bart and Kevin Parada. Lackey’s rise to the top of the draft board followed a notable developmental arc at Georgia Tech: after hitting .214 as a freshman, he delivered a breakout sophomore year by slashing .347/.421/.500, and then solidified his status as a dominant, franchise-altering talent with a powerful 2026 junior season that confirmed his standing among the draft’s elite prospects.

By Lauren Mitchell | JQJO News

Timeline of Events

2017 Twins draft Royce Lewis first overall
Freshman season Lackey bats .214 for Georgia Tech
Sophomore season Lackey hits .347 with improved power
2026 junior season solidifies Lackey elite prospect status
Today Lackey enters draft as consensus top-three
Today Twins select Lackey with third overall pick
Today selection extends Georgia Tech Catcher U reputation

News Intelligence

If you're a Twins fan, this is big. Lackey's a top prospect with a rare mix of defensive skill and offensive power. His progress at Georgia Tech shows he's a player who improves over time. Keep an eye on his rookie season.