Two Former Pit Spitters Selected in First Round of 2026 MLB Draft, Make Franchise History
Traverse City, MI – July 11, 2026 – The Traverse City Pit Spitters celebrated a milestone night during the first round of the 2026 MLB Draft, as former catchers Vahn Lackey and Daniel Jackson were selected among the first 37 picks.
Lackey became the highest-drafted former Pit Spitter in franchise history when the Minnesota Twins selected him third overall. Later in the first round, the Colorado Rockies selected Jackson with the 37th overall pick in Competitive Balance Round A.
For the first time in franchise history, two former Pit Spitters were selected in the first round of the same MLB Draft.
Both Lackey and Jackson spent the 2024 summer playing in the Cherry Capital.
Lackey appeared in 41 games for Traverse City following his freshman season at Georgia Tech. He tied for the team lead with three home runs, drove in 22 runs and reached base at a .343 clip. One of his top performances came in a July 5 victory over the Kokomo Jackrabbits, when he collected two hits and drove in three runs.
Lackey completed a dominant junior season at Georgia Tech in 2026, batting .397 with 20 home runs, 78 RBI and a 1.291 OPS. He won the Johnny Bench Award as the nation’s top collegiate catcher, earned First-Team All-America recognition and was named a Golden Spikes Award semifinalist.
The Golden Spikes Award ultimately went to his former Pit Spitters teammate.
Jackson, who began his collegiate career at Wofford before transferring to Georgia, appeared in 27 games for Traverse City in 2024. He hit .232 with seven doubles and a .378 on-base percentage. On June 27 against the rival Kalamazoo Growlers, Jackson went 3-for-4 with two doubles to help the Pit Spitters earn an 8-7 victory.
Jackson followed with one of the most decorated seasons in college baseball history. He batted .379 with 32 home runs, a Georgia-record 87 RBIs and 26 stolen bases, becoming the first catcher in NCAA Division I history to record at least 30 home runs and 25 stolen bases in the same season.
He won the Golden Spikes Award, Dick Howser Trophy, Buster Posey Award and Perfect Game National Player of the Year. Jackson also captured SEC Player of the Year, the SEC Triple Crown and SEC Tournament MVP while helping Georgia set a program record with 53 victories.
Six former Pit Spitters have now reached the Major Leagues:
LHP Luke Little — 2019 (year with Pit Spitters)
RHP Spencer Schwellenbach — 2020
RHP Chad Patrick — 2019 and 2020
RHP Andrew Hoffmann — 2019 and 2020
OF Jakob Marsee — 2022
IF Tommy Troy — 2020
Troy, selected 12th overall in 2023, had previously been the only first-round pick in Pit Spitters history.
With Lackey and Jackson joining him, Traverse City has now produced three first-round selections—adding another chapter to the
franchise’s growing pipeline from the Cherry Capital to professional baseball.
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About the Traverse City Pit Spitters: The Traverse City Pit Spitters have been members of the Northwoods League since their inaugural season in 2019. The Pit Spitters have won two Northwoods League Championships and delivered their unique brand of FUN to hundreds of thousands of fans. The Pit Spitters share Managing Partners and principal ownership with the West Michigan Whitecaps, the High A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, based in Comstock Park, Michigan. The team’s home games are played in Traverse City’s favorite multi-purpose outdoor entertainment venue, Turtle Creek Stadium. For more information visit https://northwoodsleague.com/traverse-city-pit-spitters/ or contact Jacqueline Holm at 231-943-0100 Ext. 214/ or by email at JacquelineH@pitspitters.com.
The Pit Spitters Are Cashless: Beginning in 2025, Turtle Creek Stadium transitioned to a fully cashless operation to enhance fan safety, streamline transactions, and improve efficiency. All purchases, including tickets, concessions, and merchandise, will require contactless payments. Fans needing to convert cash can do so at designated locations. This move ensures a smoother, more convenient game-day experience for all.
About the Northwoods League: The Traverse City Pit Spitters are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Now in its 31st season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 26 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires, and front office staff, 340 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (NYM), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2021 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). Northwoods League games are viewable live on FloSports.
