BREAKING: Twins Select Vahn Lackey at Pick #3 in the 2026 MLB Draft

[Sam Caulder]

Image courtesy of © Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network South Carolina / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Twins selected Vahn Lackey with the third overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft. Lackey is a catcher from Georgia Tech. Slot value for the pick is $9,740,100. Lackey was ranked #2 on our MLB Draft Consensus Board. In 2026, Lackey slashed .397/.519/.772 (1.291) with 20 home runs (39 extra-base hits) while walking 17.7% of the time, and only striking out at a 13.4% clip. He also posted an outrageous 170 wRC+, showcasing just how well-rounded of a hitter he is. Here’s what our write-up of Lackey by Jamie Cameron from our MLB Draft Consensus Board said of Lackey.

Every draft cycle seems to produce 2-3 first-round catchers, most of whom have warts offensively, defensively, or both. Georgia Tech's Vahn Lackey may be the most complete college catcher in recent seasons and has a case to make as college baseball’s most improved player in 2026. 

Lackey entered 2026 viewed as an excellent defensive catcher, with athleticism uncommon for the position, in addition to having strong bat-to-ball skills. He’s continued to look excellent behind the plate, with good receiving and blocking skills, an excellent arm, and strong pop and transfer times. He has all the ingredients to be a plus defensive catcher. 

Offensively, his power has taken a step forward. After hitting 6 home runs in 60 games in 2025, he managed 20 in 61 games in 2026, with more walks than strikeouts, adding a high on-base floor to his profile. Lackey ended 2026 hitting .397/.519/.772 with 39 extra base hits, a 17.7 BB%, a 13.4 K%, and 15 steals (94%). Simply put, he’s one of the most complete profiles in this draft class.

Lackey becomes the Twins’ first catcher selected in round one since Joe Mauer in 2001. Given the fact that Roch Cholowsky and Grady Emerson went with the first two picks, this was a no-brainer for the Twins. Lackey will immediately become one of Minnesota’s top prospects, giving the team a pair of elite catching prospects along with Eduardo Tait. Jeremy Zoll's first draft is off to a promising start.

What do you think of the pick? Add your thoughts in the comments.

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[Heistyman]

Love this pick!

[AlwaysinModeration]

Excellent pick.  Glad they didn’t mess around. 

[DJL44]

ETA 2028?

[Seth Stohs]

Hard not to be excited about picking Vahn Lackey. A college catcher who profiles as a plus offensive and defensive potential. A Georgia high school kid! 

[SarasotaBill]

Jeffers on the trade block with no refunds

[Mike Sixel]

Exciting! Likely 2028, but he could be up late 27.....

[Mike Sixel]

Just now, SarasotaBill said:

Jeffers on the trade block with no refunds

This pick has what to do with that? I mean, I hope so, but still?

[jmlease1]

Think the Twins took the best player available, which is what I want when picking that high. Lackey could rise very quickly, and having a catcher who can also add real offense is a big big bonus. He really does look like a great talent, someone who can be a difference-maker.

Very happy with this pick, hard to see any real down side.

[DataNerd]

5 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

This pick has what to do with that? I mean, I hope so, but still?

There are 4 options with Jeffers: Trade, keep and let go as a FA, keep and offer the QO, and keep and extend.  This kills a Jeffers extension, since he would probably get at least 3 years and Lackey is probably a better player in 2029 than Jeffers.  It's questionable that he is worth the QO, so it now boils down keeping him for 3 months or getting some value for those 3 months.

[Peter]

Great pick!!! Will fill void after mauer!!! Can’t wait to see him in twins uniform and in starting lineup!!!

[Andy MacPhail]

I'm elated, he's the real deal, that fits a real need! It's hard not to be hopeful of the Twins near future!

[Permanent Twins Fan]

Great pick. They did what they needed to and didn't try to get cute and save some money. Vahn Lackey is crazy athletic and I have heard a lot of J.T. Realumuto comps. Bonus is reported at 9.5 million. Joe Doyle said that he has Lackey sliding into his top 10 MLB prospects. I don't know if he will end up that high up in most rankings, but he is definitely a top 1 or 2 prospect in the Twins system. Go Twins!

[strumdatjag]

Trade Jeffers.  Caratini is a better bridge to Lackey and/or Tait (maybe Diaw).   Catcher is a position of huge organizational strength.  
Draft some pitchers now.  

[JADBP]

SOOOOO Glad that Zoll didn't try to get cute here.  

I am definitely more excited about Lackey than I was about Mauer in 2001.  This is Mauer with power (like he showed he had the one time he came up for the big contract year!  I believe he had a lot more power in him, just got that contract and put the sat back and relaxed--invented a new word:  Maueritis).

I am guessing he will slide in above just above Tait as #3 in the top prospects.  He could be #1 or 2 by the end of the season.  I wouldn't be too surprised to see him in Target Field late 2027. Lackey is an already very good backstop and that could push him so no later than 2028.  Doesn't need nearly as many reps as Tait.

Yeah, so now go draft some SPs!  This is a pretty good draft class for P's!

 

 

[DocBauer]

I truly would have been very happy with any of the top 3 options. But Lackey was my favorite. It's just so rare to have a quality, athletic, defensive catcher with a good arm who can also be a quality, contributing bat. 

It also turns out to be a great organizational fit as well. Super excited!

2 weeks at Ft Myers just to get started and then immediately up to Cedar Rapids?

[JADBP]

20 minutes ago, strumdatjag said:

Trade Jeffers.  Caratini is a better bridge to Lackey and/or Tait (maybe Diaw).   Catcher is a position of huge organizational strength.  
Draft some pitchers now.  

yes, I can't imagine Jeffer's signing a 2 year or even 3 yr contract that the Twins can afford.  So, yeah, let Caratini go with it and put Lackey on the treadmill of MiLB training and bus rides!

[SF Twins Fan]

Where do people see him starting his career?  Low A, High A, or possibly AA?

[Mike Sixel]

7 minutes ago, JADBP said:

yes, I can't imagine Jeffer's signing a 2 year or even 3 yr contract that the Twins can afford.  So, yeah, let Caratini go with it and put Lackey on the treadmill of MiLB training and bus rides!

He's getting a 4-5 year deal, imo. But I still don't see how this pick matters to that? He's gone after (or during) this year no matter what.

[LyleCole]

Solid pick.  Like others said, glad they did not get cute.

WIth respect to Jeffers, at the trade deadline all that matters is what the Twins ownership want to do with Jeffers and Joe Ryan for that matter in the future.  Do they want minimal payroll or are they willing to make market rate free agent offers to these players.  It is a simple choice.  If the answer to the market rate free agent offer is no, then trading them is a no brainer.  It has to be done.   And, only the Twins ownership can answer that question.

[whosafraidofluigirussolo]

34 minutes ago, DataNerd said:

It's questionable that he is worth the QO, so it now boils down keeping him for 3 months or getting some value for those 3 months.

Counterpoint: If Tom Pohlad wants to show he’s serious about taking steps forward in competitiveness rather than steps back, a QO to Jeffers would show that intent without hampering roster building or budget long-term. 

[Mike Sixel]

2 minutes ago, SF Twins Fan said:

Where do people see him starting his career?  Low A, High A, or possibly AA?

no way he's in AA to start. IMO. Florida for a month or so, because that's where the best tech is.

[Mai.K]

We've gone from having a thin catching corps to being loaded at catcher in just one year.

[JADBP]

Wow...kinda wild draft after the top 4!  Flores went #4, but then  Jacob Lombard fell off the table (ranked 5, went 14)!   and Gio Rojas and Justin Lebron have no takers yet.  Usual wild guesswork in the MLB draft day...

[DJL44]

4 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

no way he's in AA to start. IMO. Florida for a month or so, because that's where the best tech is.

I agree, Florida for a month and finishing in Cedar Rapids.

[JADBP]

3 minutes ago, whosafraidofluigirussolo said:

Counterpoint: If Tom Pohlad wants to show he’s serious about taking steps forward in competitiveness rather than steps back, a QO to Jeffers would show that intent without hampering roster building or budget long-term. 

Absolutely positively zero chance they give Jeffers a $22 mill one year offer!  That is insanity.  Just trade him and get it over with.  NYY have been desperately asking for him for some time.  Trade him before he breaks another bone!  

On the other hand, if Tom wanted to show his stripes, then extend Ryan NOW.  Because anytime next year will be too late.  This is the only chance you will have to extend him and you are going to have to pay Market rate for a top shelf SP!  Imagine a rotation starting with Ryan, Lopez and Bradey.  That sounds pretty stout.  

[DJL44]

22 minutes ago, JADBP said:

Wow...kinda wild draft after the top 4!  Flores went #4, but then  Jacob Lombard fell off the table (ranked 5, went 14)!   and Gio Rojas and Justin Lebron have no takers yet.  Usual wild guesswork in the MLB draft day...

Only 3 pitchers taken in the first 20 picks. Go get some pitchers.

[JADBP]

I’d be perfectly happy if they kept Lackey away from Mauer.   That Maueritis can be tricky-contagious.  

[tarheeltwinsfan]

Wonderful draft choice. I am so glad to get a catching prospect with a huge upside.  I am looking forward to watching Lackey progress through the system to the major leagues. With Tait and Diaw also progressing,  and one more year of Caratini, the Twins have some  strength at the catching position.  I wonder where Lackey will be ranked among all ML prospects and especially among the prospective catchers?

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

A no brainer pick. Well done, Twins.