Georgia Tech Catcher Vahn Lackey Projected to Be Drafted by Red Sox

The 2026 MLB Draft prospect is off to a historic start to his junior season.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 1:36pm

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According to a recent MLB mock draft, the Boston Red Sox are predicted to select Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey with their first-round pick in the 2026 MLB Draft. Lackey, a junior, is off to an incredible start to the season, batting .493 with 9 home runs, 31 RBIs, and a 1.633 OPS through his first 19 games.

Why it matters

The Red Sox could use more catching depth in their farm system, especially after trading away top prospect Kyle Teel last year. Lackey's elite offensive production makes him an intriguing target for the Red Sox, who are looking to bolster their future at the catcher position.

The details

Lackey, a 21-year-old junior, has been dominant at the plate for Georgia Tech so far this season. In 19 games, he's batting .493 with a .618 on-base percentage and a 1.015 slugging percentage. He's already hit 9 home runs, driven in 31 runs, and has 7 stolen bases. His 1.633 OPS is simply absurd for this stage of the season.

  • Lackey has played in 19 games so far this 2026 college baseball season.

The players

Vahn Lackey

A 21-year-old junior catcher for the Georgia Tech baseball team who is off to a historic start to the 2026 season, batting .493 with 9 home runs and 31 RBIs.

Carlos Narváez

The Boston Red Sox's current starting catcher, who emerged as the team's primary option behind the plate in 2025 after an injury to Connor Wong.

Connor Wong

A Boston Red Sox catcher who was the team's primary starter in 2025 before an injury opened the door for Carlos Narváez to take over the job.

Matt Thaiss

A Boston Red Sox catcher who has impressed in spring training and could compete for the backup job behind Carlos Narváez in 2026.

Kyle Teel

A former top catching prospect in the Red Sox farm system who was traded to the Chicago White Sox last year in a deal for pitcher Garrett Crochet.

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What they’re saying

“No. 20. Red Sox — Vahn Lackey, C, Georgia Tech. The top catchers in the class go within two picks of one another and inside the first 20 picks. That highlights both the value that Helfrick and Lackey carry and how close together they remain after a month of play. Lackey destroyed non-conference opponents and seems to be addressing his biggest area of concern (power) by homering six times in his first 16 games. His previous career high in homers was the six he hit in 60 games in 2025.”

— Carlos Collazo, Baseball America writer

What’s next

The Red Sox will be closely monitoring Lackey's performance throughout the rest of the college baseball season as they evaluate their options for the 2026 MLB Draft.

The takeaway

Lackey's historic start to the 2026 season has put him firmly on the Red Sox's radar as a potential first-round draft pick. If the team is able to select him, he could provide a much-needed boost to their catching depth and become a key part of their future plans behind the plate.