• Full name Christopher Kenneth Volstad
  • Born 09/23/1986 in Palm Beach Gardens, FL
  • Profile Ht.: 6'8" / Wt.: 235 / Bats: R / Throws: R
  • School Palm Beach Gardens
  • Debut 07/06/2008
  • Drafted in the 1st round (16th overall) by the Miami Marlins in 2005 (signed for $1,600,000).
    View Draft Report
    Volstad has the highest ceiling of any player in the Florida draft class, as he's a long, lanky pitcher with good stuff now and plenty of projection for down the road. He hasn't pitched consistently well enough this spring to garner much support for being the first Floridian drafted, however, and might end up fourth on the list. Volstad kept himself as a potential first-rounder by winning a duel with Tyler Herron of nearby Wellington High and showing the ability to reach 94 mph with his fastball. Volstad pitches more consistently in the 88-92 range. He repeats his delivery well enough that scouts see him sitting at 94 regularly as he gains strength and experience. He throws strikes with the fastball and has done so right out of the gate this spring. Scouts disagree on how many balls he threw in his first start, ranging between zero and four over the first five innings. He uses his height well to get a good downward angle to the plate, giving his fastball late life. His secondary pitches are solid for a prep pitcher, particularly his changeup. Volstad's breaking ball is his third pitch, though it's serviceable, and scouts consider his makeup a plus. Some question his consistency in terms of focus and killer instinct, but he has time to develop both.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Minor League Top Prospects

Top 100 Rankings

Best Tools List

  • Rated Best Control in the Miami Marlins in 2007
  • Rated Best Control in the Miami Marlins in 2006

Scouting Reports

Download our app

Read the newest magazine issue right on your phone