Georgia Tech’s Vahn Lackey wins Johnny Bench award

Staff Reports

THE FLATS – Junior C Vahn Lackey (Suwanee, Ga.) has been named the 2026 Johnny Bench Award winner for the best collegiate catcher in Division I, the Cincinnati Reds announced today. Lackey, the Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year, was the most feared catcher in college baseball this season, consistently getting runners out on the base paths, either by catching them stealing or with back-picks, while also becoming one of the best hitters in the nation.

Georgia Tech becomes the first program with three Johnny Bench Award winners as Lackey joins Joey Bart (2018) and Kevin Parada (2022) on the all-time list. The Yellow Jackets are one of three programs with multiple award winners, along with Florida State and Southern California, and the only one with more than two.

Lackey delivered an incredible 2026 season, slashing .397 avg / .519 OBP / .772 slug. over 61 games with 20 home runs, 78 RBI and 85 runs scored. He is second in the nation with a 5.66 WAR and his 1.39 runs-per-game were the most in Power 4. His .397 average is the highest among Division I catchers this season and his 1.291 OPS is Top 10 in the country as he rocketed up draft boards to become the most coveted catcher in the draft class.

He led the most potent offense in the BBCOR era in runs scored (85), slugging % (.772), on-base (.519) and walks (50) while stealing 15 bases for the second year in a row. Lackey’s 85 runs scored this season are the sixth most in program history and the most by any Yellow Jacket since 2000 while driving in 78 RBI, the 12^th most in a single season. His .772 slugging is tied with Mark Teixeira (2000) for the second highest slugging percentage of any Yellow Jacket this century, behind only Drew Burress’ freshman season (.821).

Behind the dish, Lackey is the most feared arm in college baseball, catching six attempted base stealers and catching five more with back picks. Teams don’t test Lackey often in the run game, only attempting to steal in the most optimal of times against him, due to his reputation. Defensively, Lackey helped guide the GT pitching staff to the ACC ERA title this season with a 4.36 ERA, the lowest in the conference during league games.