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With the third pick of the 2026 MLB draft, the Minnesota Twins select Von Leackey, a catcher from Georgia Tech. The San Francisco Giants have the next pick given for him here. Earned and not given for Von Lackey. He was widely overlooked his senior year of high school. He busts it to become the starting catcher at the end of his freshman year at Georgia Tech. Jim, I love this. James Ramsay telling Danny Welman, "This is a 10year starter." No, you could see that. I mean, it's a tribute to Von Lackey. It's a tribute to Georgia Tech for gaining him where he is today. First of many catchers we're going to see go today. Easily the best catcher in the draft. And you talk about
tools for a catcher. It could be a plus hitter. It could be plus power. He runs well for a catcher. would probably be close to plus speed if he didn't stay behind the plate. He's athletic enough to play third. He's getting better defensively. The broad receiving, the blocking, the arm strength, the makeup. I mean, this is as complete a package as you can find in a catcher. It kind of reminds me of a GTO Muto kind of combination of where he can do everything behind the plate. You just don't see that very often. No, you certainly don't. Harold, though, you've gotten to get a good look at Vaughn. What can you tell us about him?
Well, I tell you what, it's an amazing position because there's not many African-American catchers. He's very rare. It's been since Charles Johnson and a while since we've had a big league catcher to this ability. And I was talking with Dro earlier. I'm telling you, I watch him swing. I see Jordan Walker. I'm sorry. I He that kind of an athlete, Harold, he played all nine positions one game. That's the type of athlete we're looking at right here. Amazing. Cole, what would you want from a catcher first starting off? You know, for me, I want to see how he receives the ball. What's his game plan?
Especially before the game, if he has the comfort and the confidence to come up to us and game plan and then work in between innings to keep the flow, that's a great catcher. Last time the Minnesota Twins took a catcher in the first round, some guy named Joe Mau, 2001. Worked out.
