Twins Select Texas Catcher Carson Tinney With 43rd Pick
The Twins are betting on elite raw power that could translate to an everyday bat if Tinney improves contact or moves to first base.
Overview
- The Minnesota Twins used the 43rd overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft to select Texas catcher Carson Tinney on Saturday, July 11.
- Tinney hit .326 with 22 home runs, 58 RBIs and a .483 on-base percentage for Texas in 2026, continuing a power surge that began at Notre Dame in 2025.
- Scouts flag his standout tools: a 6'4", 240-pound frame, plus arm and receiving work behind the plate, and exit velocities regularly reported above 112–116 mph.
- Risk remains that Tinney’s high strikeout and whiff rates—66 Ks in 2026 and elevated whiff marks in 2025—could limit his offense unless he improves contact skills.
- The Twins view multiple pathways for his value: develop him as a major-league catcher, shift him to first base if needed, or use him later as a trade asset as he progresses through the minors.