Twins draft Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey in first-round of 2026 MLB Draft
The Twins selected Georgia Tech Vahn Lackey with the third overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft on Saturday. UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky went No. 1 to the Chicago White Sox, and Fort Worth Christian High School shortstop Grady Emerson went No. 2 to the Tampa Bay Rays.
Lackey, who stands at 6-foot-2 and weighs 215 pounds, is coming off an outstanding junior season at Georgia Tech, slashing .397/.519/.772 (170 wRC+) with 20 home runs. Lackey, the first catcher selected by Minnesota in the first round since Joe Mauer in 2001, is an agile catcher with a strong and accurate arm, per MLB Pipeline. He also logged innings at third base with Georgia Tech.
Minnesota selected another catcher, Texas' Carson Tinney, in the second round (No. 43 overall) of the draft. He hit .326/.483/.688 with 22 home runs in his final college season. Per MLB.com's Matthew Leach, Minnesota believes Tinney can develop into a solid defensive catcher.
Next, Minnesota selected Virginia Tech right-hander Brett Renfrow in Competitive Balance Round B (No. 74 overall). Renfrow throws a fastball that averages 94 mph and can touch 97 mph. He complements his heater with high 80s sliders and cutters, an 80-mph 12-to-6 curve and a mid-80s changeup. The right-hander posted a 4.64 ERA with 88 strikeouts and 25 walks over 73 2/3 innings in his final college season.
The Twins made two more picks on the first day of the draft, and both were right-handed pitchers. Minnesota selected Colorado's Grandview High School right-hander Ethan Wachsmann in the third round (No. 79 overall). Wachsmann, who stands at 6-foot-4, throws a mid-90s fastball that can touch 97 mph. He also throws a curveball, a slider and a changeup.
The Twins drafted TCU's Tommy LaPour in the fourth round (No. 107 overall). LaPour's fastball sits at 95-98 mph and can reach 101 mph. His mid-80s slider is his best secondary pitch. He also mixes in an upper-80s changeup and an upper-80s cutter.
Here are the rest of the Twins' draft picks:
- Round 5, No. 139
- Rounds 6-20, the Twins will have the No. 4 selection of each round
Rounds 5 through 20 will take place on Sunday, July 12, from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. CDT on Peacock, MLB.com, MLB TV and MLB+.
Twins claim reliever off waivers from Red Sox
Before yesterday's draft, the Twins claimed right-hander Jack Anderson off waivers from the Boston Red Sox, according to 7 News' Ari Alexander. As a corresponding 40-man roster move, Minnesota moved left-hander Anthony Banda to the 60-day IL. Banda is out for the season after undergoing season-ending lat surgery, per The Athletic's Dan Hayes.
Anderson, 26, made his MLB debut this year with Boston, recording a 3.38 ERA with six strikeouts and two walks in eight innings across three appearances. He has all of his minor-league options remaining, so he can be moved back and forth from Triple-A St. Paul.
Anderson relies on five pitches: a low-90s four-seamer, low-80s split-finger, low-80s slider, high-70s sweeper and high-70s curveball.
Twins acquire reliever from Blue Jays, option Eric Orze
The Twins acquired right-hander Tommy Nance and international bonus pool space from the Toronto Blue Jays for minor-league catcher Ryan Sprock on Friday. Nance, who had a 3.82 ERA over 33 innings with Toronto this season, made his Twins debut in Saturday's 5-3 win against the Los Angeles Angels. He allowed one earned run on two hits and no walks with three strikeouts in one inning.
To clear space for Nance on the 40-man roster, Minnesota placed right-hander Mick Abel on the 60-day injured list. To make room on the big-league roster, the Twins optioned right-hander Eric Orze to Triple-A St. Paul. Orze has struggled this year, posting a 5.66 ERA over 41 1/3 innings.
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