With the 3rd pick of the 2026 MLB Draft, the Minnesota Twins have selected Georgia Tech Catcher Vahn Lackey who over the course of two years progressed from an unheralded high school recruit into one of the top catching prospects in the nation.
Vahn Lackey hails from Suwanee Georgia, where he attended Collins High School. Lackey finished his high school career in 2023-24 with a batting average of .372, 5 HRs, 16 RBI, and 30 runs scored. These stats earned him the inauspicious ranking of #16 catcher
in the state of Georgia per Perfect Game USA. Lackey grew significantly his senior year in high school from 5-foot-6 156 lbs to 6-foot-2 190 lbs. Georgia Tech saw potential in Lackey and recruited him to play on the flats.
As a freshman, Lackey played in 36 games, starting in 26 of those games. Offensively, Lackey continued to struggle. Lackey hit .214/.330/.381, with 4 HRs and 15 RBI. While still adapting on offense Lackey was able to provide solid defensive performances night in and night out with a fielding percentage of .988% on the season.
Vahn Lackey’s breakout season came in his sophomore year. This year Lackey started 50 of the team’s 60 games at catcher (while playing the other 10 at 3rd base). During the season Lackey slashed .347/.421/.500 with 6 HRs, 42 RBI, and 18 stolen bases to boot. As a cherry on top, Lackey scored a perfect fielding percentage of 1.000% on the season. This performance earned Lackey the 2026 ACC Defensive Player of the Year award and the 2026 Johnny Bench award for best Division I catcher, and a spot on the USA Collegiate National team.
Vahn Lackey has had a meteoric rise on the offensive side of the ball over the past year. Lackey put on some muscle going from 190 lbs in his freshman year to 215 lbs at the start of his sophomore season which aided him in increasing his power and bat speed. During the 2025-26 season Lackey increased his slugging percentage from .381 his freshman year to .772 and showed improved vision with a decrease in his strikeout rate from 17.5% his freshman year to 14.3% his sophomore season. It should also be noted that Lackey’s .772 slugging percentage this season was tied with Mark Teixeira for the second-highest slugging percentage by a Georgia Tech player this century. Lackey’s batting is a force to be reckoned with, but where he really shines is on the defensive side.
Lackey has been an amazing defensive catcher since he arrived on Georgia Tech campus. Lackey operates from a one-knee down catching position that allows for more lateral movement to help block wild pitches and setup better vision for throwing out runners. Despite only having a ~25% caught stealing percentage throughout his college career, during his time in summer league those numbers increased closer to 33%. Lackey has shown fantastic arm strength, and while he needs to work on some of the precision in his throws Lackey has snappy reflexes which make him dangerous to run against.
Lackey is also a highly versatile fielder. In a game against West Georgia in the 2026 season, Lackey was shuffled to multiple positions throughout the game. By the end of the game Lackey had played at every position on the field aside from pitcher. During the same game Lackey finished a single away from hitting for the cycle.
Vahn Lackey is a high energy, versatile fielder who is still growing into his full potential. Coming from a school in Georgia Tech which has produced catchers such as Jason Varitek, Matt Wieters, Joey Bart, and Kevin Parada, it would not be a stretch to say that Vahn Lackey is the best catching prospect that Georgia Tech has produced since the start of the millennium. The Twin’s have drafted a fantastic prospect in Lackey and fans should be thrilled for when he eventually takes the field at the Major League level.
