Vahn Lackey, a junior catcher hailing from Suwanee, Georgia, has been selected as a finalist for the 2026 Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award, a honor that celebrates the nation’s most outstanding defensive backstop.
The accolade comes on the heels of his being named Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year, a testament to his prowess behind the plate and his influence on the Georgia Tech pitching staff, which captured the ACC ERA title this season.
At the plate, Lackey has engineered a historic offensive campaign, batting above .400 for the second straight year and ranking second nationally with a 5.56 WAR, while also topping the country in runs scored, slugging percentage, on‑base rate and walks within the BBCOR era.
His speed adds another dimension, as he has stolen 15 bases for the second consecutive season, and his arm has stifled opposing runners, catching six would‑be steal attempts and five more with back‑pick throws.
The impact of his all‑around game extends beyond personal statistics; teammates and coaches credit him with elevating the entire staff, a factor that helped the Yellow Jackets secure the conference’s ERA crown.
Lackey is joined on the finalist list by a cadre of former standouts, including Kevin Parada, Joey Bart, Matt Wieters, Zane Evans, Kyle McCann and Drew Burres, each of whom has left a lasting imprint on college baseball.
A Legacy in the Making
As the 2026 award ceremony approaches, the baseball community watches closely to see whether Lackey will extend his record‑breaking season into the history books, a narrative that underscores the rising talent emerging from Georgia Tech and the broader collegiate landscape.