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Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey was picked third overall by the Minnesota Twins, and Tech outfielder Drew Burress was picked eighth overall by the Athletics during the first round of the MLB draft on Saturday
Lackey, 21, just recently won a 2026 Johnny Bench Award for the best NCAA Division I male catcher. He hit .397 with 20 homers and 78 RBIs across 61 games
Lackey is from Suwanee and graduated from Collins Hill High School. Click here to read his Georgia Tech profile
Georgia Tech has a reputation for producing standout catchers. In the past 35 years, Tech players Jason Varitek, Matt Wieters, Joey Bart and Kevin Parada were also picked in the first round of the draft. Both Lackey and Burress were named 2026 All-Americans by various organizations
Burress, also 21, was the 2024 Division I Freshman of the Year and was on the All-Atlantic Coast Conference 1st Team in 2024 and 2025. He also holds the record for most career home runs in Yellow Jackets history (60)
He’s from Warner Robins and graduated from Houston High School. Click here to read his Tech profile
In the second round of the draft, Georgia Tech second baseman Jarren Advincula was picked 45th overall by the Los Angeles Angels and shortstop Carson Kerce was picked 53rd overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks
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