\n\tEach year, I endeavor to project the draft not by claiming to know every player who will be taken, but by standing on the shoulders of giants. I take MLB mock draft rankings from major industry outlets like MLB Pipeline, ESPN, The Athletic and many others to form a consensus board, with a working hypothesis that using this approach will eliminate some of the noise and variance in MLB Draft mock rankings. This year, that all feels especially important for the Twins, who pick high enough in the first round to make this draft a pivotal moment for the franchise.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tThe Minnesota Twins\u2019 first five picks are:\n<\/p>\n
\t\tRound 1: 3rd Overall<\/p>\n
\t\tRound 2: 43rd Overall<\/p>\n
\t\tCompetitive Balance Round B: 74th Overall<\/p>\n
\t\tRound 3: 79th Overall<\/p>\n
\t\tRound 4: 107th Overall<\/p>\n
\n\tHere’s a look at who might be available to them at each stop.\n<\/p>\n
\tRound 1: Vahn Lackey<\/a>, C, Georgia Tech<\/p>\n \n\tEvery draft cycle seems to produce 2-3 first-round catchers, most of whom have warts offensively, defensively, or both. Georgia Tech’s Vahn Lackey may be the most complete college catcher in recent seasons and has a case to make as college baseball\u2019s most improved player in 2026. Lackey entered 2026 viewed as an excellent defensive catcher, with athleticism uncommon for the position, in addition to having strong bat-to-ball skills. He\u2019s continued to look excellent behind the plate, with good receiving and blocking skills, an excellent arm and strong pop and transfer times. He has all the ingredients to be a plus defensive catcher.\n<\/p>\n \n\tOffensively, his power has taken a step forward. After hitting 6 home runs in 60 games in 2025, he managed 20 in 61 games in 2026, with more walks than strikeouts, adding a high on-base floor to his profile. Lackey ended 2026 hitting .397\/.519\/.772, with 39 extra-base hits, a 17.7 BB%, a 13.4 K%, and 15 steals (94%). Simply put, he\u2019s one of the most complete profiles in this draft class.\n<\/p>\n \tRound 2: Aiden Ruiz, SS, The Stony Brook HS (NY)<\/p>\n \n\tRuiz is a diminutive, switch-hitting shortstop currently committed to Vanderbilt. He’ll be a fascinating follow on draft day. He’ll be 19 and is listed at 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds with limited power projection, so he’ll test some of our assumptions about what prospect profiles and traits organizations will and won’t lean into.\n<\/p>\n \n\tRuiz is arguably the best defensive shortstop in the entire class. He has a quick first step, soft hands, and a big arm. He can make any play from any spot in the infield, it’s plus defense at one of the most important positions on the field.\n<\/p>\n \n\tOffensively, Ruiz is a switch hitter, with a contact-oriented approach. It’s exceptional bat-to-ball skills from both sides of the plate. Ruiz will expand the zone a little, at times, so there’s some risk his quality of contact is diminished unless he tightens his approach. There’s never going to be a ton of power, but Ruiz is an above-average runner and should be a pesky threat on the basepaths.\n<\/p>\n \n\tThe defense and contact skills headline this profile, it’s a combination that can rack up plenty of value for a drafting organization.\n<\/p>\n