Second-round draft picks don't typically generate much hype, at least not immediately. Well, the Twins' second-round pick from this year's draft, Texas Longhorns catcher Carson Tinney, has impressed early in his professional career.
MLB Pipeline recently updated its list of top 30 Twins prospects, with Tinney, 21, ranking No. 10. He has elite power potential and a strong arm from behind the plate.
Tinney has just six hits in 39 at-bats across 12 games with Single-A Fort Myers so far. However, three of those six hits were home runs. He's also worked 13 walks, giving him a strong .377 on-base percentage.
Tinney hit two of his three home runs on Wednesday. The first one was a two-run home run with 2026 first-round pick Vahn Lackey on base in the bottom of the third.
Tinney's next home run was just about as clutch as it gets. With one out and a runner on base in the bottom of the ninth, Tinney hit a two-run walk-off home run to give the Mighty Mussels a 6-5 win. Lackey also scored on Tinney's second home run after hitting his first career professional triple.
VAHN LACKEY'S FIRST PRO TRIPLE SETS UP CARSON TINNEY'S SECOND BOMB OF THE NIGHT TO WALK US OFF!!#MNTwins
— Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (@MightyMussels) August 13, 2026
Final | FTM 6 - CLR 5 pic.twitter.com/tFNrTbZmQO
Tinney isn't even the best catcher the Twins drafted this year, but he still could end up catching big-league games for Minnesota. But with Lackey likely the team's catcher of the future, Tinney could end up being a primary first baseman or a piece of a trade package for the Twins.
Twins' catching pipeline is as good as ever
Even though Tinney is the Twins' No. 10 overall prospect, he is the organization's No. 4 overall catching prospect. MLB Pipeline ranks Lackey as the Twins' No. 2 overall prospect and MLB's No. 19.
Catcher Eduardo Tait is the team's No. 6 overall prospect, and catcher Khadim Diaw ranks No. 9. The Twins also have two other catchers on their list of top 30 prospects, as Enrique Jimenez ranks No. 26 and Ricardo Olivar No. 30.
Even though Ryan Jeffers is slated to be a free agent at the end of the year, the Twins should feel pretty good about their catching situation long-term.
Between Lackey, Tinney, Diaw and Tait, Minnesota is pretty set at catcher for the future. With Victor Caratini under contract through next season, the Twins should have a smooth transition when Lackey and others are ready to take over the backstop position for Minnesota. And with how many catchers they have in the minors, the Twins should feel comfortable trading one or two to improve other areas of the roster.
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