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Mom's Surprise Led to MLB Draft Success
25 Jul
Summary
- Vahn Lackey was drafted third overall by the Twins in 2026.
- His MLB Draft signing bonus was reportedly $9,497,500.
- Lackey will begin his professional career with High-A Cedar Rapids.
Vahn Lackey's path to professional baseball, culminating in being selected third overall in the 2026 MLB Draft by the Twins, was spurred by a surprising turn of events orchestrated by his mother. Originally a basketball player, Lackey only began baseball around age 11.
His transition to catcher was prompted by a parent group's complaints about a lefty catcher. Lackey's impressive college performance, including a .397 batting average, led to his high draft selection and a reported signing bonus of $9,497,500.
The Twins plan to have Lackey ramp up baseball activities before assigning him to High-A Cedar Rapids for the remainder of the season. He expressed excitement about his future, describing himself as an exciting player who will keep fans engaged.
Lackey recently visited Target Field, receiving a tour and meeting several Twins players, including fellow Georgia native Byron Buxton. He had previously trained with big league arms like Taj Bradley during his college years at Georgia Tech.
