​After a roller-coaster first half that still finds the Minnesota Twins squarely in the playoff chase, the threshold to the All-Star Break signals a busy stretch ahead, including the 2026 MLB Draft. The Twins are poised for a hectic opening day, holding the third overall pick plus five total selections on day one. Twinkie Town’s Aidan O’Brien has already laid out a thorough analysis of the top three prospects in this year’s draft, which offers a useful primer for what Minnesota may consider.
The 2026 MLB Draft kicks off today at 12 PM CDT in Philadelphia, ushering in All-Star Week. This year features a somewhat unconventional schedule: rounds 1 through 4, including all compensatory and competitive balance rounds, will be held today, with rounds 5 through 20 set to begin on Sunday at 10:30 AM CDT. If you’re trying to follow the action, here’s how the broadcast is split: rounds 1 through 10 can be watched on NBC and Peacock, after which the feed shifts to MLB Network, MLB.com, MLB.TV, and MLB+. That same day’s coverage for rounds 11 through 40 will be shared across those platforms as well, but the remainder of day one (picks 41–135) and all of day two lose the MLB Network component. For fans looking to keep up with every pick, this post will track the first-round selections and break down the Twins’ picks as they come in across the two days.
With the consensus top two picks already off the board, Minnesota grabbed Lackey, the consensus third prospect. Given Ryan Jeffers is likely to be moving on after this season, Lackey’s blend of experience, athleticism, and defensive prowess could help him move quickly through the system. Scouts agree that he can stick at catcher, a rarity for a collegiate standout, and even in the unlikely scenario that catching doesn’t work out long-term, his bat remains among the best in this draft. One notable footnote: this marks the Twins’ first first-round catcher since the era-defining Joe Mauer, the Hall of Famer who began his legendary career in Minnesota. No pressure, Lackey.
MLB Pipeline’s Scouting Report on the No. 3 Overall Prospect paints Lackey as a late bloomer who didn’t receive Division I offers from college programs until his senior year of high school, and whose name didn’t pop on many scouts’ radar due to limited showcase appearances. Today, however, he’s recognized as the premier catching prospect in the 2026 draft and appears positioned to join a prestigious lineage of Georgia Tech backstops—think Jason Varitek, Matt Wieters, Joey Bart, and Kevin Parada—as a first-round draft choice hailing from the Peach State. He has steadily improved each season with the Yellow Jackets, posting an eye-catching .397/.519/.772 line as a junior and is anticipated to be selected within the top three or four picks.
Lackey’s swing is right-handed and can feel a touch busy at times, yet he consistently makes contact to all fields. He demonstrates exceptional patience and rarely misses fastballs, paired with plus raw power that projects to 25–30 home runs per season. His swing is flat, which can generate more groundball contact, but he’s driving balls with greater authority and elevating them more frequently this spring. At 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds, he’s athletically impressive for a catcher, a profile that should help him adapt quickly to higher levels of competition and the demands of the position.
In short, the Twins’ selection of Lackey aligns with a broader plan to lock in a high-ceiling catcher who could quickly become a cornerstone behind the plate, while also providing a bat that could drive significant value. As Minnesota navigates a pivotal year near the trade deadline and contends for a postseason berth, Lackey represents a thoughtful bet on a player who could grow into a perennial infield mainstay or a franchise-altering presence behind the dish. The draft process will unfold over the next 48 hours, and fans can expect continued updates as Minnesota’s picks are announced and analyzed in real time.