Former Traverse City Pit Spitters catchers Vahn Lackey and Daniel Jackson were selected in the first round of the MLB Draft Saturday. Lackey became the highest-drafted former Pit Spitter in franchise history when the Minnesota Twins selected him third overall, while the Colorado Rockies selected Jackson with the 37th overall pick. Both players were with the Pit Spitters in the summer of 2024.

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. 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.

"Jackson followed with one of the most decorated seasons in college baseball history," according to the Pit Spitters. "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," according to the Pit Spitters.