2026 Minnesota Twins MLB Draft Recap: 21 Thoughts on 21 Draftees

[Jamie Cameron]

The Twins 2026 draft is in the books. Let's recap it with a thought for each of their 21 selections.

Round 1: Pick 3, Vahn Lackey, C, Georgia Tech
The Twins got their guy. Plus defensive catchers who put up a 170 wRC+ in the ACC are outlier prospects. In his draft recap, Eric Longenhagen said of Lackey’s strengths; ‘everything’. He has a chance to solve a big problem for the Twins for at least 5 years. A special prospect.

Round 2: Pick 43, Carson Tinney, C, Texas
It’s likely the Twins got scooped here (Reddemann, Brunson). Tinney is an extremely fun prospect, though. He hit 22 bombs in the SEC while walking ~20% of the time and putting up a 154 wRC+. The catching improved too. If he can be viable behind the plate, great, but he’s there to endanger the lives of fans in the second deck.

Comp B: Pick 74, Brett Renfrow, RHP, Virginia Tech
Labelling Renfrow as the ‘pitchability’ arm on day one doesn’t do justice to his stuff. It’s a ton of strikes (7.9 BB%), but the fastball sits 94-96 mph and the Twins will have a strong game plan for pitch design with his arsenal. He should profile as a very solid 4-5.

Round 3: Pick 79, Ethan Wachsmann, RHP, Grandview HS, CO
This is elite arm talent. Wachsmann has been up to 101 mph with a high spin fastball. He spins his curve around 3,000 rpms and has a nascent changeup. Despite throwing a little erratically at the combine, there were plenty of strikes in high school. Said Sean Johnson of Wachsmann ‘he’s the kind of pitcher you see going to Wake Forest and coming out on the other side as a first round pick.

Round 4: Pick 107, Tommy LaPour, RHP, TCU
LaPour has a ton of arm talent but needs a little more touch and feel. The fastball is a solid shape and has been up to triple digits. He hasn’t struck out as many guys in college as his arm talent indicates he might, and he’ll need to up his strike rate (62% in 2026). LaPour dealt with a flexor strain and the Twins would not have been able to access him this late but for his injury. He has a chance to start.

Round 5: Pick 139, Steele Murdock, RHP, UC San Diego
Member of the 2026 MLB Draft All Names team. Murdock is one of four college arms the Twins took out of California. His fastball is up to 99 mph with good shape. There are two, distinct, quality breaking pitches, but there’s reliever risk due to erratic command.

Round 6: Pick 168, Ethan Lay, RHP, Sacramento State
How do you sign Ethan Wachsmann? Draft three seniors in the first ten rounds. Lay is the first, It’s a track record of performance (3.78 ERA in 88 innings) and strikes (4.3% walk rate in 2026). His curvebal is his best pitch. It induced a 44% whiff rate in 2026.

Round 7: Pick 197, Max Bayles, RHP, UC Santa Clara
Bayles transitioned to a starting role after beginning his collegiate career as a reliever. He put up outrageously god strikeout numbers in 2026 (34.3%). It’s a good fastball shape that gets up to 95 mph with two breaking pitches that blur together and not enough strikes. 

Round 8: Pick 227, Thomas Burns, RHP, Texas
The first pure reliever the Twins drafted. Burns has one of the best fastballs in the entire draft. It’s a triple digit monster that averaged 21 inches of induced vertical break. He’s a prime candidate to reduce to 2-3 pitches and move quickly on the fast track to the bullpen.

Round 9: Pick 257, JT Raab, RHP, Georgetown
Raab has an outlier fastball, too. It averaged almost 23 inches of IVB and he throws it for strikes over 70% of the time (up to 95 mph). The rest of his arsenal (change, slider, cutter) needs untangling because it all looks the same on his plot. Raab will be a savings pick as he’s a grad player.

Round 10: Pick 287, Kole Klecker, RHP, Arizona State
One final money saving pick to pay for Wachsmann. Klecker pitched for ASU this year after three seasons at TCU. His fastball isn’t great but he has two interesting, distinct breaking pitches in his slider and curveball. Both had whiff rates over 35% in 2026. Feel for spin is the carrying trait here.

Round 11: Pick 317, Aidan Teel, OF, Mississippi St
Teel is the younger brother of White Sox catcher Kyle Teel. He had a down 2026, but a .979 OPS as a sophomore gives you an idea of what he can do. At his best, it’s a contact driven offensive profile with above average supplementary tools. He profiles as a fourth outfielder. 

Round 12: Pick 347, Colby Turner, 2B, Michigan
Colby Turner’s production at Michigan is hard to come by in this portion of the draft. He managed a 1.057 OPS with 14 home runs as a junior. There’s above average bat-to-ball skills and above average impact here. The bad news? An insane chase rate (~37%).

Round 13: Pick 377, Isaiah Lane, SS, Hope International
Is this an un-Twinsy pick? Lane played in the same high school infield as Marcelo Mayer, before stints at Oklahoma and UC San Diego before he was kicked off the team for violating team rules. Lane managed a 154 wRC+ in 2025 with strong bat-to-ball skills and an excellent approach. He’ll be a wild card coming into the Twins system after spending 2026 at New Hope. 

Round 14: Pick 407, Alec Bouchard, RHP, Wofford
Bouchard is a slender college righty coming off an excellent 2026 season. He managed a 3.75 FIP, striking out 29% of hitters and walking 7.5% in 86 innings for Wofford. His fastball has been up to 94 mph with a two seamer, changeup and slurvy breaking ball in the max. He’s a prime ‘might be good with a few more ticks on the stuff’ candidate.

Round 15: Pick 437, Charlie Schlovin, SS, Toledo
Every player in the draft has a super power. Schlovin’s is getting hit by pitches (65 in 112 games in his final two seasons at Toledo. He’s the grinder, org warrior type player in this class (think Harry Genth). He managed a 152 wRC+ in a contact driven offensive profile.

Round 16: Pick 467, Connor Mattison, RHP, Kentucky
A combo starter/reliever from Kentucky, Mattison throws from a much lower launch, generating good whiff rates from his changeup and two seamer. An east-west movement profile with some interesting release traits.

Round 17: Pick 497, Hideki Prather, C, Cal
Some are saying that the Twins draft too many catchers. Prather is a barrel magnet. Like many Twins draftees, he has an excellent average exit velocity, without registering great top end exit velocities. Prather slugged 14 home runs and managed a 123 wRC+ for Cal in spite of chasing a ton. The defensive skill set is fringy but he’s already an air-pull master.

Round 18: Pick 527, Colter McAnelly, RHP, Utah
McAnelly was poor in 2026 but had a strong 2025 season as a starter at Utah (3.79 ERA, 14.5 K-BB%). He’s a bit light on velo but it's an interesting fastball shape. McAnelly has an excellent curveball, a 3,000 rpm breaker that produced a 43% whiff rate in 2026. 

Round 19: Pick 557, PJ Moutzouridis, SS, Arizona State
Moutzouridis is a well rounded college player. A contact and approach driven D1 average bat, he’s a good defender at shortstop (and anywhere else on the infield you care to play him). 

Round 20:, Pick 587, Michael Barnett, RHP, UCLA
Barnett threw up to seven different pitches in college but a lot of his shapes blend together. There’s not a ton of velocity but he did get an outrageous amount of whiff and chase on his changeup, which is easily his best pitch. Likely lower minors starter filler.

 

View full article

[Patzky]

Get to know 'em! Thank you. Now to see some of the SIGNED indications

 

[rdehring]

Great report, Jamie, thanks.  Have a couple questions.

Do you see it taking more than $150k to sign any of the players drafted #11-#20?  Interesting that of the 21 players drafted, only 8 were position players and 3 of those catchers.  Speaking of those 13 pitchers, who do you think has the best chance of becoming this year's Zebbie or Festa?

My son played ball at DU 40 some years ago.  He has helped out as an assistant coach at two area high schools the past dozen or so years.  When I asked him if he knew about Wachsmann, his response was, "oh ya," after correcting the wrong spelling I had in my text.

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

JD -  you have done excellent draft coverage from the podcasts to articles here.   Thank you very much.  

1. I have high hopes for Lackey - I think he will be the best catcher in the league for a significant time frame.  I think he will be the perfect person to take the mantle after a gap year from Jeffers.   I think the Twins will be able to keep him fresh and let his bat rake.   (Confidence factor 90%)

2. Tinney -  I have a man crush right now.   Lackey was easy this guy is a swing for the fence pick literally and figuratively.   The exit velocities are crazy.   I put him in the category of a Winokur and Young pick with a drastically higher floor and the most demanding defensive position.   No you are not getting the athleticism unicorns that are Winokur and Young - but you are getting a Catcher prospect with better defense that he is given credit for,  a bat tool that is better than he is given credit for,  power that will do serious damage to the stats and outfield seats.  And the kicker he has the drive to get better and wants to remain a catcher.   IF he pans out and a similar time frame as Lackey - they would be the perfect battering mates to pair together, can keep each other fresh and the Twins could have the most significant offensive advantage at the catcher position for a significant window.  Otherwise he moves to 1st, trade ect.  (Confidence factor 70%).     

I like Renfrow, Wachsmann,  Lapour, Murdock, Bayles, Burns and Brouchard.  The Twins drastically need some of these guys to pan out to help the lower minors.  The 2023 and 2024 drafts have left a massive gap at AA for quality pitching prospects or pitching in general.   The system is being carried by the 2022 draft and most of those have been called up already to help at the MLB level (Lee, Priellip, Morris, Matthews).  Between the picks, Soto,  Dasan Hill, Quick, Ellwanger, Reitz, Barr, Mitrovich, Moring, Smith.   We really need these young pitchers to start figuring it out.  This is the first time I have been a bit concerned about the pitching coming up through the minors. 

Alas its all a wait and see.   Thanks again.   

[DJL44]

Besides Lackey, Wachsmann is the key to this draft.

[Jamie Cameron]

10 minutes ago, rdehring said:

Great report, Jamie, thanks.  Have a couple questions.

Do you see it taking more than $150k to sign any of the players drafted #11-#20?  Interesting that of the 21 players drafted, only 8 were position players and 3 of those catchers.  Speaking of those 13 pitchers, who do you think has the best chance of becoming this year's Zebbie or Festa?

My son played ball at DU 40 some years ago.  He has helped out as an assistant coach at two area high schools the past dozen or so years.  When I asked him if he knew about Wachsmann, his response was, "oh ya," after correcting the wrong spelling I had in my text.

I don't think anyone in 11-20 will be more than 150K. The Twins tend to draft pretty straight up in that they (unlike the Brewers) don't sign HS players in the second half. I wouldn't expect any of those players to impact the bonus pool. Lay, Klecker, and Raab will constitute the savings needed for Wachsmann.

For the arms, Burns should be a fast moving reliever. Of the later guys, I think Lay and Raab are interesting. Bouchard is a good candidate to be much more interesting if he ca. add a bit more velo. Thanks for reading!

[tarheeltwinsfan]

One would think that out of 13 pitchers drafted by the Twins, at least one would pitch left-handed. Nope!

[Dman]

Jamie, Really appreciate the write ups and draft coverage in general.  We are spoiled with your coverage. Thanks for all you do!!

I like what the Twins did with their first 6 picks.  Once you are out of the top 100 it's pretty hard to find hitters that can make it. Arms taken later will have a better chance, but still long shots as well.  Twins managed to get one of the top 3 players in a weaker class and managed a possible future 1st rounder in Wachsmann.  That's about all you can ask for in a draft like this.  I like Renfrow and LaPour as well.  Happy they went arms early and often. 

Do you happen to know anything about the undrafted free agents the Twins signed?  Was wondering who they got outside the draft.

[rdehring]

 

39 minutes ago, Patzky said:

Get to know 'em! Thank you. Now to see some of the SIGNED indications

 

Hasn't it been the Twins track record to be slow in reporting who has signed?  Expect there is a good chance several, or perhaps many of these picks are signed and already down in Fort Myers working out.

But add me to the list of those who check the draft tracker three or four times a day.

[Mike Sixel]

Thanks for all the awesome work this year! 

Not big on Timney, but I understand why they picked him. 

Other than him, Lackey, and Wachsmann, not sure I have an opinion, other than taking lots of pitchers makes sense. 

I hope they are faster at making some relief pitchers than they have been in the past. 

[Jamie Cameron]

22 minutes ago, Dman said:

Jamie, Really appreciate the write ups and draft coverage in general.  We are spoiled with your coverage. Thanks for all you do!!

I like what the Twins did with their first 6 picks.  Once you are out of the top 100 it's pretty hard to find hitters that can make it. Arms taken later will have a better chance, but still long shots as well.  Twins managed to get one of the top 3 players in a weaker class and managed a possible future 1st rounder in Wachsmann.  That's about all you can ask for in a draft like this.  I like Renfrow and LaPour as well.  Happy they went arms early and often. 

Do you happen to know anything about the undrafted free agents the Twins signed?  Was wondering who they got outside the draft.

Thanks so much for the kind words. UDFAs so far
Tyler Bryan, RHP, Houston
Ryne Palmer, RHP, Cal Baptist
Jackson Sleeper, RHP, Jacksonville St

[Kenny Powers]

Great summary - exactly what I was searching around to try and find.  Looks like a lot of catchers and high velocity right handers.  I'm not complaining (as I assume they took BPA), but like another poster wrote - it's a little surprising to see zero LHP taken.

[DataNerd]

57 minutes ago, rdehring said:

 

Hasn't it been the Twins track record to be slow in reporting who has signed?  Expect there is a good chance several, or perhaps many of these picks are signed and already down in Fort Myers working out.

But add me to the list of those who check the draft tracker three or four times a day.

That has been their track record since Boras/Jenkins held the Twins up for more money.  Teams don't want players knowing how much money is available, especially would be the case with Wachsmann where he could just demand any leftover money (not going into the overage) and probably would get it.

[Dman]

1 hour ago, Jamie Cameron said:

Thanks so much for the kind words. UDFAs so far
Tyler Bryan, RHP, Houston
Ryne Palmer, RHP, Cal Baptist
Jackson Sleeper, RHP, Jacksonville St

Those are some rough numbers on Bryan. Never had and ERA under 5.00 and K rate isn't great either.  Also isn't real tall at 6'1".  I guess this is one of those small school like the frame and see things we can fix projects?

Sleeper really is a sleeper. 6'7" that's a big guy.  Nice numbers, but I assume from another smaller school. Very interesting addition there.  Seems like an arm that would have been worthy of a draft pick.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

Jamie, What a wonderful job you did for us at TD.  Your earlier draft  articles were spot on and very interesting.   It must have taken hours and hours of your time to research and write these articles.   The culmination of your research , resulting in the summation of each Twin draftee was amazing.  We at TD are so fortunate to be able to keep up with these matters through your excellent research and writing.  THANK YOU !

[DataNerd]

Love the quick writeups.  Will immediately caveat my thoughts with I haven't really watched these guys play.

Lackey was the obvious pick, and I'm not going to give the FO any credit for this pick if it works or, nor any blame if it doesn't.  On player development yes, but not for drafting.

I have to assume the Twins feel better about Tinney's defense at C than the media does to take him here.

Wachsmann feels even a bit more boom-bust than Hill did when drafted.  Velo and spinrates are both borderline elite, but not as much present development.

They seem to be drafting a lot of plus fastballs and hoping they can develop the rest of the arsenal.  We'll see how it works out.

[Jamie Cameron]

12 minutes ago, tarheeltwinsfan said:

Jamie, What a wonderful job you did for us at TD.  Your earlier draft  articles were spot on and very interesting.   It must have taken hours and hours of your time to research and write these articles.   The culmination of your research , resulting in the summation of each Twin draftee was amazing.  We at TD are so fortunate to be able to keep up with these matters through your excellent research and writing.  THANK YOU !

Thanks so much for the kind words. Really appreciate it. I love the draft content so plenty more next year.

[thelanges5]

Twins love them some big, high velo RHPs!

[TopGunn#22]

Also love the quick write ups.  Agree with tarheelstwinsfan...Are the Twins allergic to LHP?  Somewhere, someplace, there has to be a Left Handed Pitcher...SP or potential RP out there the Twins have some interest in.