Ranking the Twins' Potential Outcomes with the Third Overall Pick

The MLB Draft can reshape an organization in a single night, and that's exactly the opportunity sitting in front of the Minnesota Twins. After a disappointing 2025 campaign, Minnesota owns the third overall selection in the 2026 MLB Draft, marking the franchise's highest pick since selecting Royce Lewis first overall in 2017. History suggests those opportunities don't come around often. The Twins also used top-three selections on Byron Buxton in 2012 and Joe Mauer in 2001, making this the kind of draft position that can alter the direction of the organization for years.

The front office has assembled one of baseball's deepest farm systems through trades and strong player development, but landing another cornerstone piece could elevate the system to another level. While there are several directions Minnesota could go, some outcomes are clearly more appealing than others.

4. Take an Under-slot Deal to Diversify the Bonus Pool

There is always temptation to play the bonus pool game. If Minnesota believes another prospect can provide similar long-term value while signing for less than slot value, the savings could be redistributed throughout the rest of the draft. It's a strategy that has worked for several organizations in recent years, especially when multiple players are graded similarly.

Someone like Jackson Flora, the top collegiate pitcher in the class, or explosive outfielder Drew Burress could fit that mold. Still, it would be difficult for Twins fans to embrace that approach while one of the consensus top-three prospects remains available. Passing on elite talent in favor of financial flexibility would inevitably revive criticism of the organization's spending habits, regardless of how successful the overall draft ultimately becomes (and of the fact that it would merely represent moving money around, not actually spending less). Unless Minnesota's evaluators genuinely believe another player belongs in that top tier, the safest path is simply taking the best player available.

3. Draft Vahn Lackey

Catchers always come with additional risk near the top of the draft. Their development tends to take longer than other position players, and there's never a guarantee they'll remain behind the plate throughout their professional careers. That makes Vahn Lackey a fascinating evaluation.

Fortunately for whichever organization selects him, Lackey checks nearly every box. Long praised for his defensive ability, he elevated himself into the conversation as arguably the best player in college baseball after an offensive breakout. His swing generates plenty of power thanks to excellent bat speed and an aggressive lower-half load. He attacks fastballs ferociously and has steadily improved his strike-zone discipline over the last two seasons.

There is some understandable concern about whether the amount of pre-swing movement could create additional swing-and-miss against professional breaking pitches. Even so, the combination of above-average contact ability and plus power gives him legitimate middle-of-the-order upside.

Defensively, Lackey separates himself even further. He's remarkably athletic for a catcher, stealing 18 bases in 2025 before swiping another 15 this spring. His quick feet allow him to block balls with ease, while his plus arm and lightning-fast release make controlling the running game look effortless.

Few catching prospects offer this combination of offensive upside, defensive polish, and athleticism. He may require additional patience in the minor leagues while the bat continues to develop, but his defensive foundation creates one of the highest floors in the class. Minnesota hasn't used a first-round pick on a catcher since Joe Mauer. Lackey has the talent to end that drought.

2. Draft Grady Emerson

Few (if any) players in this draft possess Grady Emerson's upside. The high school shortstop has been viewed as one of the elite talents in the class for years, and his combination of polish and projection continues to impress evaluators.

Everything starts with the swing. It's compact, balanced, and incredibly efficient. Emerson consistently keeps the barrel in the zone, producing hard contact to all fields while rarely chasing pitches outside the strike zone. He hit an eye-popping .532 during his senior season, pairing elite bat-to-ball skills with emerging power and an advanced approach rarely seen from prep hitters. While there's obvious room for additional strength as he matures physically, his offensive profile already projects as one capable of producing both average and power at the highest level.

Defensively, Emerson remains at shortstop thanks to smooth actions, quality instincts, and above-average arm strength. He isn't the flashiest defender in the class, but he does everything well and plays with a level of consistency that gives scouts confidence he'll remain at the position.

Like every high school player, there is additional risk simply because projecting physical development isn't an exact science. Added strength could unlock another level offensively, but it's impossible to know exactly how his body will change over the next several years. The ceiling is enormous, even if there's naturally more uncertainty than with a polished college player.

1. Draft Roch Cholowsky

If Roch Cholowsky somehow reaches the third pick, Minnesota's decision should become remarkably simple. While some evaluators have recently elevated Emerson or Lackey atop their personal draft boards, Cholowsky continues to offer perhaps the most complete package in the class. After entering UCLA instead of signing out of high school, he added strength without sacrificing athleticism, transforming an already impressive skill set into one of college baseball's most complete profiles.

At the plate, Cholowsky combines elite bat speed with a compact swing. He consistently drives the baseball to every part of the field while showing the combination of contact ability and power teams covet at premium defensive positions. His aggressive mindset occasionally leads him to expand the strike zone, but the overall offensive profile projects as an impact bat capable of producing both average and power throughout his career.

The defensive upside may be even more exciting. Cholowsky owns one of the strongest arms in the draft and routinely makes highlight-reel throws from deep in the hole. Although he's only an average runner, his instincts and internal clock allow him to maximize every bit of his athleticism. His range, hands, and overall defensive actions have many evaluators projecting Gold Glove potential at shortstop.

For an organization that has spent recent years searching for long-term answers in the middle infield, Cholowsky would fit beautifully alongside Marek Houston and Kaelen Culpepper, giving Minnesota an impressive collection of premium defensive infield talent. And that's before considering that he might also develop into one of the best hitters from the entire class. 

The odds still favor Cholowsky hearing his name called before the Twins pick, but recent draft buzz has at least created a realistic possibility. If he's still available, Minnesota would be difficult to fault for sprinting the card to the podium.

The beauty of drafting third overall is that Minnesota is almost guaranteed to walk away with one of the premier talents in the country. Whether it's the polished all-around game of Cholowsky, the immense upside of Emerson, or the rare two-way value Lackey provides behind the plate, the Twins should have an opportunity to add another elite prospect to an already loaded farm system.

The only disappointing outcome would be allowing bonus pool strategy to outweigh elite talent if one of the consensus top prospects remains on the board. Opportunities to draft this high are rare, and history has shown that the Twins have made the most of them before. This weekend offers another chance to find the franchise's next legend.

Do you agree with the rankings above? Leave a comment and start the discussion.

Check out our 2026 mock draft board, updated regularly, and with detailed player write-ups!