The Minnesota Twins have high hopes for Vahn Lackey.
For the past 10 days, his first as a professional, Lackey has begun learning his trade in Southwest Florida as a member of the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels. The club, Minnesota’s Single-A affiliate in the Florida State League based at Lee Health Sports Complex, is where Lackey’s development has started.
For the past 10 days, his first as a professional, Lackey has begun learning his trade in Southwest Florida as a member of the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels. The club, Minnesota’s Single-A affiliate in the Florida State League based at Lee Health Sports Complex, is where Lackey’s development has started.
With the Twins announcing Lackey’s signing on July 22, their No. 1 draft selection at last month’s MLB First-Year Player Draft in Philadelphia (third overall), much will be expected from the standout collegiate catcher from Georgia Tech who signed the third-highest bonus ($9,497,500) in Draft history since its inception in 1965.
After his signing in Minneapolis, meeting Twins’ skipper Derek Shelton, and getting the tour of Target Field, Lackey packed his mitt, bagged his bats, and headed off to Lee County, Florida. With the Mighty Mussels finishing up a homestand with the Palm Beach Cardinals (St. Louis affiliate), Lackey was eased into the lineup for four games played at Hammond Stadium before embarking on a six-game road trip to Bradenton, Florida; 95 miles north via I-75.
After his signing in Minneapolis, meeting Twins’ skipper Derek Shelton, and getting the tour of Target Field, Lackey packed his mitt, bagged his bats, and headed off to Lee County, Florida. With the Mighty Mussels finishing up a homestand with the Palm Beach Cardinals (St. Louis affiliate), Lackey was eased into the lineup for four games played at Hammond Stadium before embarking on a six-game road trip to Bradenton, Florida; 95 miles north via I-75.
The adjustment from being an amateur playing college ball to being a high draft pick and working full-time on his game is something Lackey is working through.
“It’s definitely unreal,” Lackey, 21, told The Epoch Times on Thursday prior to a team meeting at LECOM Park in Bradenton and a game with the Pittsburgh Pirates’ affiliate. “I think it’s pretty cool that I’m getting to play day. This is my job now. It’s been a crazy transition, and it’s fun.”
So far, a plan of catching and, on days when not behind the plate, being penciled in as the Mussels designated hitter by manager Jordan Smith is how Lackey’s introduction to the “Twins Way” is laid out.
“It’s definitely unreal,” Lackey, 21, told The Epoch Times on Thursday prior to a team meeting at LECOM Park in Bradenton and a game with the Pittsburgh Pirates’ affiliate. “I think it’s pretty cool that I’m getting to play day. This is my job now. It’s been a crazy transition, and it’s fun.”
So far, a plan of catching and, on days when not behind the plate, being penciled in as the Mussels designated hitter by manager Jordan Smith is how Lackey’s introduction to the “Twins Way” is laid out.
For Lackey, the 2026 winner of the Johnny Bench Award, recognized as the best collegiate catcher in Division I, he is the first catcher since the 2001 Draft to be tabbed as the Twins’ top choice. Joe Mauer was selected No. 1 overall out of high school, and he went on to have a Hall of Fame catching career. At this point in his journey, Lackey is still excited to share the same clubhouse that the Twins use during spring training.
“When I walked into the clubhouse for the first time, it definitely hit me. Now that I’m here, and I’m playing every day, and I’m just concentrating on getting better,” Lackey, who played for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets for three years (2024–2026), said.
There had to be more than a few high-fives shared back in Minnesota and in the Mussels’ dugout during Lackey’s first four games played. In his third game with Fort Myers, Lackey collected two hits, drove in a run, and threw out two runners on the bases, all during an 8–7, 10-inning Mussels victory. Support for Lackey from his family in Suwanee, Georgia, is also in full forward motion.
“My dad has already been here. He’s my biggest fan. Two games with the Cardinals, my dad was here supporting me,” Lackey tells of his life away from home.
Unlike Grady Emerson, the second-overall pick in the MLB Draft by Tampa Bay who was in attendance at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia to hear his name called by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, Lackey opted to remain in Georgia for his first, big career announcement.
“When I walked into the clubhouse for the first time, it definitely hit me. Now that I’m here, and I’m playing every day, and I’m just concentrating on getting better,” Lackey, who played for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets for three years (2024–2026), said.
There had to be more than a few high-fives shared back in Minnesota and in the Mussels’ dugout during Lackey’s first four games played. In his third game with Fort Myers, Lackey collected two hits, drove in a run, and threw out two runners on the bases, all during an 8–7, 10-inning Mussels victory. Support for Lackey from his family in Suwanee, Georgia, is also in full forward motion.
“My dad has already been here. He’s my biggest fan. Two games with the Cardinals, my dad was here supporting me,” Lackey tells of his life away from home.
Unlike Grady Emerson, the second-overall pick in the MLB Draft by Tampa Bay who was in attendance at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia to hear his name called by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, Lackey opted to remain in Georgia for his first, big career announcement.
Based in northern Gwinnett County, Lackey chose to play his college ball at Georgia Tech to remain close to home. Collins Hill High School in Suwanee (Ga.), located 34 miles from Atlanta, has a history of producing professional athletes. Four NFL players, an Olympic gymnast, a WNBA player, an NFL cheerleader, and the current MLB top base-stealer (40), Nasim Nunez of the Washington Nationals, attended Collins Hill just like Lackey.
The Minnesota Twins' first-round draft pick Vahn Lackey (L) and manager Derek Shelton shake hands before the game between the Twins and the Athletics at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minn., on July 24, 2026. Matt Krohn/Getty Images
And just like his famous high school alumni, Lackey is anxious to join the list of those who have made it to the major leagues.
“I feel like I could definitely make it in the next year,” Lackey predicts. “This offseason is a big one for me. The only one who can stop me is myself. There are things that I definitely need to work on. I understand that I have more growth to go.”
For now, Lackey is one of six from Minnesota’s draft class starting their careers in Fort Myers. After Sunday’s series finale against the Bradenton Marauders, Lackey and his teammates will bus home to Fort Myers and enjoy an off-day on Monday.
“I feel like I could definitely make it in the next year,” Lackey predicts. “This offseason is a big one for me. The only one who can stop me is myself. There are things that I definitely need to work on. I understand that I have more growth to go.”
For now, Lackey is one of six from Minnesota’s draft class starting their careers in Fort Myers. After Sunday’s series finale against the Bradenton Marauders, Lackey and his teammates will bus home to Fort Myers and enjoy an off-day on Monday.
Next up, a six-game homestand with the visiting Clearwater Threshers (Philadelphia Phillies affiliate). The process of riding the buses and becoming familiar with all the amenities of the Twins’ complex in Fort Myers through Sept. 6, when the FSL season ends, is what Lackey is navigating. After that, maybe some winter ball is planned.
No more concentrating on classes or final exams. No meeting with career advisors or signing up for lab times. With his three years of college in his rearview mirror, Lackey is now mastering tunnel vision for pitching and catching full-time.
No more concentrating on classes or final exams. No meeting with career advisors or signing up for lab times. With his three years of college in his rearview mirror, Lackey is now mastering tunnel vision for pitching and catching full-time.
With Lackey, a two-time ACC Academic Honor Roll student, the proverbial sky is his baseball limit.
