​Thanks to a disastrous 2025 season, the Twins are poised to draft a soon-to-be top MLB prospect with the 3rd overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft this weekend. This selection marks their highest drafting position since 2017, when they chose Royce Lewis with the 1st overall pick, and their last two top-three selections before that were Byron Buxton and Joe Mauer. Not bad at all. It goes without saying that a pick of this magnitude will ripple through the future of the Minnesota Twins franchise. As draft day nears, I dug into the top prospects in this class and ranked my top five options for the Twins if they are available at No. 3. Enjoy.
Roch Cholowsky has long been the top prospect in this year’s draft, but confidence around his standing has wavered as the event approaches, with some scouts pushing Grady Emerson or Vahn Lackey into the top tier. They’re all exceptional talents, but as a gold-glove-caliber shortstop with an all-around strong offensive profile, Cholowsky remains my No. 1 choice.
When MLB Pipeline ranked him as the No. 44 prospect in the 2023 draft as a high schooler, Cholowsky carried a leaner frame. He chose UCLA instead, where he bulked up without sacrificing his athleticism. He carried elite production throughout, combining a short, controlled swing with crisp bat speed and enough loft to drive the ball to all fields consistently. There’s a touch more aggression in his approach that will need monitoring as he enters professional baseball, but the hit-and-power combination is elite. Defensively, Cholowsky has a cannon for an arm and makes standout plays from both the bases and the field. His range and defensive actions are already pushing him into elite shortstop territory. While it’s still unlikely he will be available when Minnesota is on the clock, the odds have shifted upward, and he would be a near-lock for the No. 3 pick if he remains on the board. The Twins have lacked true shortstop prospects in recent years, and Cholowsky would give them a potent upgrade at a premium position, potentially complemented by Houston at another infield spot while Culpepper hovers on the edge. It would set the organization up for a level of infield defense unseen in a long time—and yes, Cholowsky can absolutely hit.
Vahn Lackey has been a standout in college circles for his top-tier catching defense, but back-to-back breakout seasons at the plate have thrust him into “best player in college baseball” conversations. There are a lot of moving parts in his swing, including a big leg kick and a pronounced stride. He loads his hands early and has a powerful, yet smooth, line drive through the zone. He doesn’t miss fastballs, but there are questions about his ability to adjust to offspeed pitches at higher levels, which could factor into how quickly he translates to the majors. Still, his defensive prowess behind the plate, framing ability, and game-calling instinct are elite, and his bat has shown enough impact to merit serious consideration for a top-three pick. If the Twins chase a catcher of the future who can anchor their lineup for a decade, Lackey would be a compelling target at No. 3, provided the scouting reports align with their evaluation and his development progresses as projected.