Inside Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey's meteoric rise to the top of MLB draft boards
Inside Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey's meteoric rise to the top of MLB draft boardsJake Mintz & Jordan Shusterman discuss Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey's ascendant college career. The under-recruited collegiate standout was arguably the best player in the NCAA in 2026 and is on the precipice of being a top-three pick in next week's MLB Draft. Check out the full conversation on the “Baseball Bar-B-Cast” podcast - and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.2:22Now PlayingPausedMLB Draft Chaos?! New No. 1 Pick Emerges + Tarik Skubal Trade Battle Heats Up26:26Now PlayingPaused
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Inside Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey's meteoric rise to the top of MLB draft boards
Jake Mintz·Jordan ShustermanWed, July 1, 2026 at 4:35 PM UTCJake Mintz & Jordan Shusterman discuss Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey's ascendant college career. The under-recruited collegiate standout was arguably the best player in the NCAA in 2026 and is on the precipice of being a top-three pick in next week's MLB Draft.
Check out the full conversation on the “Baseball Bar-B-Cast” podcast - and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.
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Now in Vaughn Lackey's case, really what happened here was an incredible combination of physical growth and player development growth that happened at the same time.
This was not a- Yes He clearly must have had some level of intriguing athleticism for Georgia Tech to give him a chance on the team as someone who is not a super top recruiter, a top prospect on the showcase circuit.
At the same time, he did not have this kind of physicality and this kind of e- explosive ability when he arrived on campus.
He gets bigger, he gets stronger, and then even after only playing, only gets about 100 at-bats, plate appearances as a freshman.
AdvertisementAdvertisementHits 214, 711 OPS.
And then last year the numbers were not crazy.
They were very impressive for a sophomore catcher with that background of having barely played as a freshman and wasn't really a top guy.
But when you would talk to scouts about him towards the end of last year, and then certainly once you got to the fall, even in the fall it was like, "Oh yeah, no, this guy might just be the best player in the country already."
Like, he is gonna be in the mix.
And I remember hearing that and looking at his numbers from last year and being like, "That seems a little rich."
Like, we gotta see a lot more before I would take a guy And that, that's, that's not fair to me.
AdvertisementAdvertisementIt's not like I said he's gonna have the exact same season.
But my goodness did he I mean, look at these numbers.
I mean, he goes from a 921 OPS as a sophomore to a 1291 as a junior.
20 homers, he steals 15 bases.
He has actually, throughout his college career, shown cameos at literally every position besides pitcher.
You see him pregame, I saw him in person at, at, against Boston College, you'll see him take infield.
He looks like a natural shortstop, natural third baseman, natural second baseman.
He's out shagging in the outfield, and yet this guy wants to catch.
He's embraced being a catcher, and that's awesome.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAnd when you combine that with an offensive skill set that just keeps getting better by the week, that is why you have a player that is in- Yeah which I think should be in real c- consideration by the White Sox.
Based on, my understanding, it sounds like they're closer, more deciding between Shlosski and Emerson.
But, man, whichever team in the top three here, or I guess if he falls any further, gets Vaughn Lackey, I, I can't, I couldn't be more excited for him and for them because I'm, I'm all in on this guy.
- Inside Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey's meteoric rise to the top of MLB draft boardsJake Mintz & Jordan Shusterman discuss Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey's ascendant college career. The under-recruited collegiate standout was arguably the best player in the NCAA in 2026 and is on the precipice of being a top-three pick in next week's MLB Draft. Check out the full conversation on the “Baseball Bar-B-Cast” podcast - and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.2:22Now PlayingPaused
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
