Rumor: MN Twins Already Decided on No. 3 Overall Draft Pick

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Minnesota Twins draft target Vahn Lackey - Georgia Tech
Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

After a hopeful start to their 2026 season, it appears the Minnesota Twins — losers of five-straight games and six of their last seven after falling to the Pirates again Sunday — may be at the start of a tailspin they are not built to recover from.

That means, in a matter of weeks, Minnesota fans could yet against be looking to a future as uncertain as any in baseball history. Sure, the Twins have a lot of organizational decisions to make before players step foot on Hammond Field in Fort Myers, come February 2027.

Because there’s no guarantee that will happen at all, as both the MLB and MLBPA brace for a likely lockout this summer over labor disagreements. But before that happens, the Twins will go through the 2026 MLB Draft (July 11-12) and the 2026 MLB trade deadline (August 3).

If they can’t recover from this recent stretch of losing, the Minnesota Twins will undoubtedly hit the “sell hard” button later this summer, just like they did at last year’s trade deadline. At least for now, though, that part of the future remains undecided.

Minnesota Twins No. 3 overall draft pick already set in stone?

Apparently, that is not the case when we look forward to the 2026 MLB Draft, where local insider and former MN Twins pitcher Charley Walters is reporting that the Twins have already decided on their next first round draft pick — which is slotted at No. 3 overall.

In his latest Sunday column at the Pioneer Press, Charley writes that “there is little doubt” the Twins are set on selecting Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey with the highest draft pick the Twins have held since drafting Royce Lewis No. 1 overall in 2017.

There seems little doubt that the Twins, with the No. 3 overall pick in the July 11-12 amateur draft, will choose Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey.

Charley Walters – Pioneer Press

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How good is Vahn Lackey? Some are calling the soon-to-be 21-year-old Yellow Jacket catcher the best player in college baseball and the most talented prospect in the upcoming draft.

Lackey — who stands 6’2″ and weighs in a 215 pounds – is playing in the final games of his his junior season at Georgia Tech right now — leading the No. 2 ranked team in the country to a 48-9 regular season record.

Vahn Lackey is so good

The Suwanee, GA native — who hit a 468 foot bomb to help lead the Jackets over Oklahoma Saturday in the NCAA Regionals — is batting an absolutely absurd .412 with a 20 HR, 78 RBI and 1.332 OPS in 273 plate appearances (59 games) this season.

Oh, and last year in the Cape Cod league, Lackey threw out 55 of the 65 potential base stealers from behind the dish, where he also posted a .985 fielding percentage and 12.80 range factor.

Related: Why MN Twins Fans Should Want MLB Salary Cap/Floor

Most MLB Draft experts believe the first two draft picks off the board later this summer will be some combination of SS Grady Emerson (Fort Worth Christian High School) and UCLA SS Roch Cholowsky, though there is some debate over which guy the White Sox will take No. 1 overall.

Earlier this weekend, Kiley McDaniel (ESPN) did indeed have the Twins selecting Lackey at No. 3. It came with a disclaimer, however.

Because nobody seems totally sure the White Sox or Rays want to draft the high school phenom shortstop out of Texas. And if one jumps up for Lackey instead, that’s who the Twins are expected to take.

No. 3: Minnesota Twins

Vahn Lackey (21.0), C, Georgia Tech

Just like when they had the fifth pick in a five-player top tier in 2023, and landing Walker Jenkins, the Twins are fortunate again to pick third in a three-player top tier. Lackey is the most likely outcome here.

Don’t be surprised if: Emerson is way more likely to land here than No. 4 if he lasts this long. If the Rays take Lackey or Flora, I don’t think Minnesota passes on Emerson. For what it’s worth, Texas A&M infielder Chris Hacopian is the wild rumor/big discount name being mentioned here, but I am not taking it seriously as an actual option yet.

Kiley McDaniel – ESPN

So, either Walters knows something others don’t about who the Rays and White Sox want at No. 2 overall… or he is being hopeful that Vahn Lackey is still there at No. 3 for the Minnesota Twins.

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