Twins Project Georgia Tech's Vahn Lackey at No. 3, Lead 5-Pick 2026 Mock Draft

Q: In a weak draft, will the Twins risk their top pick on a high-upside player or choose a safer college bat?

The Twins are more likely to take the safer college bat at No. 3, unless high-upside prep shortstop Grady Emerson unexpectedly reaches them. That is where the strongest draft signals point. Minnesota is picking in what evaluators describe as a clear three-player top tier, and Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey is widely viewed as the most likely outcome for the Twins. He fits both the board and the club’s recent preference for polished hitters with strong bat-to-ball skills. In a weak class, that matters: teams are wary of missing at the very top, and Lackey offers one of the best combinations of floor and impact in the draft. Lackey is not merely “safe.” His 2026 jump was substantial: 20 home runs, a .397/.519/.772 line, more walks than strikeouts, plus premium defensive value behind the plate with an elite arm. That gives Minnesota a player who is relatively advanced but still has real upside, which is a valuable middle ground in a draft lacking consensus stars. The case for a riskier swing is Emerson. Industry buzz says the Twins would be hard-pressed to pass on him if Tampa Bay leaves him on the board at No. 2. He is younger, more projectable, and offers the kind of ceiling clubs increasingly chase. But the most credible projections still tie Minnesota to Lackey. So the practical answer is that the Twins appear set to choose the safer college bat, while keeping the door open for a high-upside exception if Emerson falls.

3 articles · Updated · Twins Daily · Jul 3

Minnesota is projected to use the No. 3 overall pick on Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey, whose 2026 breakout paired plus defense with a .397/.519/.772 line and 20 home runs.
Lackey's appeal centers on a rare all-around catching profile: strong receiving and arm strength behind the plate, more walks than strikeouts, and 15 steals in 2026.
At No. 43, the mock sends the Twins Stony Brook HS shortstop Aiden Ruiz, a Vanderbilt commit viewed as arguably the class's best defensive shortstop with switch-hitting contact skills.
The rest of Minnesota's first five picks are projected as Virginia Tech right-hander Brett Renfrow at No. 74, Kansas prep third baseman Beau Peterson at No. 79, and another selection at No. 107.
With picks at 3, 43, 74, 79 and 107, the draft is framed as a pivotal chance for the Twins to add impact talent across premium positions and pitching.