The Minnesota Twins selected Carson Tinney 43rd overall in the 2026 MLB Draft. Tinney played for Notre Dame and the University of Texas at Austin. He was ranked 61st in our mock draft, slashing .326/.483/.688 offensively for the Aggies.
Here is a summary of Tinney written by our draft expert, Jamie Cameron.
Notre Dame transfer Carson Tinney is a different profile of player, with more whiff in his offensive profile and more defensive uncertainty. Despite this, it's an incredibly impressive production after transferring to Texas and facing SEC competition his junior season. Tinney has significant swing-and-miss issues with his hit tool, but it's legitimate 70-grade raw power. He's posted exit velocities north of 115 mph in 2026, in addition to 22 home runs in 61 games.
While he strikes out a lot (23.1%), his hit tool concerns are somewhat mitigated by a walk rate of 19.2%.. Defensively, it's huge arm strength. Like many other large-framed catchers, Tinney struggles with some of the nimbleness and adaptability of movement behind the plate. Outside of controlling the running game, the whole defensive package needs work. Even so, it's 30 home run potential that could find a home at first base if the catching doesn't stick.
The Minnesota Twins secured a major organizational upgrade by selecting Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey with the No. 3 overall pick and Texas catcher Carson Tinney at No. 43 overall. This strategic emphasis on premium backstops injects high-impact depth, defensive versatility, and immense power into the franchise's pipeline.
Drafting premium catching talent is always a high-risk, high-reward strategy, but the Twins have focused - intentionally or not - on acquiring catcher depth since the 2025 trade deadline. If even one of these prospects hits their ceiling, the Twins have secured a foundational piece for their next championship window.
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