Twins Select Catcher Vahn Lackey with Third Overall Pick in 2026 MLB Draft

The Comcast Corporation-owned NBC platforms kicked off the 2026 MLB Draft coverage today from Philadelphia, marking the start of All-Star Week. The event features a revised broadcast structure, with the first ten picks airing on NBC and Peacock, followed by a shift to MLB Network and MLB.com for the remainder of the opening rounds.

The Minnesota Twins entered the day with significant draft capital, holding five selections within the first day of the event. The franchise used the third overall selection to add Vahn Lackey, a catcher from Georgia Tech. This choice marks the first time the Twins have selected a catcher in the first round since drafting Hall of Famer Joe Mauer.

Lackey arrives with a strong track record after hitting .397/.519/.772 during his junior season. Scouting reports cite his defensive capabilities and ability to manage a pitching staff as key assets, though his power potential at the plate is also drawing attention. The Twins currently project to have Ryan Jeffers in his final year of control, potentially accelerating Lackey’s timeline to the major leagues.

This year’s draft schedule is compressed, with rounds one through four taking place today. The broadcast arrangement splits coverage between two primary partners for the first round, a departure from previous years. For Comcast, which trades under the ticker CMCSA, the event offers live sports programming across its NBCUniversal and Peacock streaming platforms.

Rounds five through 20 are scheduled to begin on Sunday. The Twins will continue to add depth to their farm system throughout the remainder of the draft.

What to watch

• The performance of Vahn Lackey in the minor leagues and his potential timeline to replace Ryan Jeffers.
• Viewership numbers for the MLB Draft across the NBC and Peacock platforms.

Source: original release