MLB Pipeline Mocks College Catcher Vahn Lackey to Pirates
The 2026 MLB Draft is less than two months away and the Pittsburgh Pirates will be on the clock with […] The post MLB Pipeline Mocks College Catcher Vahn Lackey to Pirates appeared first on Pittsburgh Baseball Now.
The 2026 MLB Draft is less than two months away and the Pittsburgh Pirates will be on the clock with the the fifth pick. The Pirates have been on an outstanding run when picking in the first round in recent drafts. Pittsburgh took 2025 National League Rookie of the Year and 2026 Cy Young Paul Skenes with the first pick in 2023.
A year later, they selected shortstop Konnor Griffin, who emerged as the top prospect in baseball before signing a franchise-record contract extension in April. Last year, the Pirates took right-hander Seth Hernandez, who is currently considered the top pitching prospect in the game. The Pirates will look to continue their success when it’s their turn to pick in this year’s draft, and they could go in a number of different directions.
Jonathan Mayo of MLB Pipeline released his mock draft and has the Pirates selecting Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey with the fifth pick. Lackey, 20, is in the midst of a sensational season with the Yellow Jackets. In 55 games, he’s slashed .
404/520/. 773 with 16 doubles, three triples, 17 home runs, 72 RBI and 14 stolen bases. Lackey is considered the third-best prospect in this year’s draft.