Twins fans have some reason for hope.
Minnesota had the third overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft this past weekend. The Twins selected Vahn Lackey, a catcher from Georgia Tech, with their first-round pick. They had 21 picks overall, eight of whom were ranked in MLB Pipeline’s top 250 draft prospects.
Lackey, a right-handed hitter, had an exceptional junior season for the Yellow Jackets. He batted .397/.519/.722, good for a blistering 1.291 OPS. He walked 50 times compared to just 38 strikeouts. He hit 20 homers and tallied 78 RBIs. He also stole 15 bases.
Lackey also possesses above-average speed and athleticism for a catcher.
A scouting report on MLB Pipeline reads that “Lackey’s right-handed swing can get a little busy, but that doesn’t prevent him from making consistent contact to all fields. He’s extremely patient, rarely misses fastballs and has the plus raw power to provide 25-30 homers on an annual basis. His flat stroke produces too much groundball contact but he’s driving balls harder than ever and in the air a bit more often this spring.”
The report notes that Lackey is agile behind the plate and should be able to grow into a solid receiver. He also has a strong arm and has shown an ability to play third base.
Lackey was the No. 3-ranked prospect in the draft by MLB Pipeline. The Twins received the third pick in the draft lottery after going 70-92 in 2025. The pick carries an approximate value of $9.74 million, with the Twins still needing to sign him to make it official.
The last time the Twins took a catcher in the first round was 2001, when they selected now-Hall-of-Famer Joe Mauer.
The Twins also took a college catcher with their second pick, grabbing Texas catcher Carson Tinney 43rd overall. Tinney was ranked No. 73 by MLB Pipeline.
With their 21 total picks in the draft, the Twins selected 20 college players, reflecting a growing trend across baseball. The Twins had a Competitive Balance Round B pick in between the second and third round. Thirteen of their picks were pitchers, with nine in a row at one point. All of the pitchers they selected were right-handers.
The lone high schooler they took was third-round pitcher Ethan Wachsmann out of Grandview High School in Colorado. Per MLB Pipeline’s scouting report, Wachsmann sits in the mid-90s with his fastball and can run it up to 97. He has both a curveball and the slider, with the curve reportedly being the better of the offerings. He was ranked No. 87 coming in and was drafted 79th overall.
Full list of Twins’ 2026 MLB Draft selections
Round 1 (3rd pick): C Vahn Lackey (Georgia Tech)
Round 2 (43rd pick): C Carson Tinney (Texas)
Round CB-B (74th pick): RHP Brett Renfrow (Virginia Tech)
Round 3 (79th pick): RHP Ethan Wachsmann (Grandview High School, Colorado)
Round 4 (107th pick): RHP Tommy LaPour (Texas Christian University)
Round 5 (139th pick): RHP Steele Murdock (UC San Diego)
Round 6 (168th pick): RHP Ethan Lay (Sacramento State)
Round 7 (197th pick): RHP Max Bayles (Santa Clara)
Round 8 (227th pick): RHP Thomas Burns (Texas)
Round 9 (257th pick): RHP JT Raab (Georgetown)
Round 10 (287th pick): RHP Kole Klecker (Arizona State)
Round 11 (317th pick): OF Aidan Teel (Arizona State)
Round 12 (347th pick): 2B Colby Turner (Michigan)
Round 13 (377th pick): SS Isaiah Lane (Hope International)
Round 14 (407th pick): RHP Alec Bouchard (Wofford)
Round 15 (437th pick): SS Charlie Scholvin (Toledo)
Round 16 (467th pick): RHP Connor Mattison (Kentucky)
Round 17 (497th pick): C Hideki Prather (California Berkeley)
Round 18 (527th pick): RHP Colter McAnelly (Utah)
Round 19 (557th pick): SS PJ Moutzouridis (Arizona State)
Round 20 (587th pick): RHP Michael Barnett (UCLA)