Overview
- The Minnesota Twins selected Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey with the No. 3 overall pick on Saturday, July 11, 2026.
- Lackey posted a breakout 2026 season, hitting .397 with 20 home runs, 78 RBIs and a 1.291 OPS while helping Georgia Tech win ACC regular-season and tournament titles.
- Scouts praise his defense and athleticism — he won ACC Defensive Player of the Year, threw out multiple baserunners, recorded back picks, played some third base and stole bases — traits rare for a catcher.
- The Twins are expected to sign Lackey near the No. 3 slot value, roughly $9.74 million, and his arrival reshapes Minnesota’s catching depth chart and long-term player-development plans.
- Lackey’s rise from a late-recruited high-school player to a top-3 prospect continues Georgia Tech’s run of elite catchers and offers a visible role model for Black players at a position with few high-profile examples.