Vahn Lackey

Vahn Lackey
Minnesota Twins
Catcher
Born: (2005-07-07) July 7, 2005 (age 21)
Suwanee, Georgia, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Vahn Edward Lackey (born July 7, 2005) is an American professional baseball catcher in the Minnesota Twins organization. He played college baseball for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

Amateur career

Lackey started catching in his little league because they only had used a left-handed catcher. He attended Collins Hill High School in Suwanee, Georgia. He committed to Georgia Tech to play college baseball, starting as a lowly ranked prospect.

As a freshman at Georgia Tech in 2024, Lackey played in 36 games with 26 starts and hit .214/.330/.381 with four home runs and 15 runs batted in (RBI) over 84 at-bats. After the season, he played summer league ball for the Traverse City Pit Spitters. As a sophomore in 2025, Lackey started 50 of 60 games and hit .347/.421/.500 with six home runs, 42 RBI and 18 stolen bases over 222 at-bats. After the season, he played for the United States collegiate national team, and also played collegiate summer baseball with the Hyannis Harbor Hawks of the Cape Cod Baseball League.

Lackey returned to Georgia Tech for his junior season in 2026 as the starting catcher. In a game against West Georgia he became the first player in Georgia Tech history to play in eight different positions during a game.

Professional career

Lackey was a top prospect for the 2026 MLB draft and was drafted third overall by the Minnesota Twins. He signed with the Twins for a signing bonus of approximately $9.5 million. At the time, it was the second-highest signing bonus in MLB draft history, until Grady Emerson surpassed it a few days later.

On July 30, 2026, he made his professional debut with the Single-A affiliate Fort Myers Mighty Mussels.

References

  1. ↑ Dykstra, Sam (July 14, 2026). "The Twins' No. 3 overall Draft pick wouldn't even be a catcher if not for a text from dad". MLB.com. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Former Collins Hill High School student selected in the MLB Draft". Gwinnett County Public Schools. July 1, 2026. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  3. ↑ Cahill, Teddy (June 22, 2026). "Daniel Jackson's and Vahn Lackey's paths from overlooked recruits to All-America catchers". The Athletic. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Lackey, Burress Drafted in the Top 10 of the MLB Draft". Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. July 11, 2026. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Collins Hill Grad Vahn Lackey Enjoys Summer Japan Trip with USA Baseball". gwinnettdailypost.com. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Vahn Lackey". capecodleague.com. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Scouting Vahn Lackey: An Excellent Defensive Catcher Coming Into Newfound Power". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Vahn Lackey does it all as Georgia Tech blanks West Georgia". albanyherald.com. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Catcher Vahn Lackey rakes in honors for Georgia Tech". ajc.com. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Draft prospect Vahn Lackey plays eight positions in Georgia Tech win". MLB.com. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  11. ↑ McWilliams, Julian (July 11, 2026). "Vahn Lackey, No. 3 MLB Draft pick, knows he can be an inspiration as a Black catcher". CBS Sports. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  12. ↑ Dixon, Wesley (July 11, 2026). "Minnesota Twins Select Vahn Lackey With 3rd Pick in 2026 MLB Draft". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  13. ↑ Hayes, Dan (July 18, 2026). "Twins, No. 3 MLB Draft pick Vahn Lackey agree to contract terms: Source". The Athletic. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  14. ↑ Samulski, Eric. "Twins sign first-rounder Vahn Lackey". NBC Sports. Archived from the original on July 22, 2026. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  15. ↑ Leach, Matthew (July 22, 2026). "Twins give No. 3 pick Lackey second-highest bonus in MLB Draft history (sources)". MLB.com. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  16. ↑ Berry, Adam (July 22, 2026). "Rays reach deal with No. 2 overall pick Emerson for $9.75M (source)". MLB.com. Retrieved July 23, 2026.
  17. ↑ Greenspan, Jared (July 30, 2026). "Twins give No. 3 pick Lackey second-highest bonus in MLB Draft history (sources)". MLB.com. Archived from the original on August 1, 2026. Retrieved August 1, 2026.