Joey Volchko

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #22 prospect in 2026 draft
  School:Georgia Age At Draft: 21.0
  
  Drafted: Never Drafted
  
  The 6-foot-4 righthander last spring showed flashes of his high-octane stuff. And while he did the same this season, he didn’t take the step forward many expected him to. When Volchko is “on,” he has perhaps the best pure stuff of any pitcher in the 2026 class. He deploys a funky, somewhat up-tempo delivery with his limbs flying at the opposing hitter and features a mid-to-upper-90s fastball that flashes plenty of run and sink, but his money maker is a high-spin, low-90s power slider for which he has an advanced feel. Volchko has a better feel for his slider than he does his fastball, and it’s a pitch that routinely flashes sharp two-plane tilt and generates plenty of empty swings. He also features a power mid-80s downer curveball that’s distinct in shape from his slider and rounds out his arsenal with a low-90s changeup that occasionally flashes. The biggest wild card with Volchko is his command. When he’s in and around the strike zone, he is arguably the most dominant pitcher in his class. However, that’s been a big “if”—especially this spring—and his pitchability will need to take a sizable step forward.
• Ranked #25 prospect in 2026 draft
  School: Georgia Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted. Age At Draft: 21.0
  
  Volchko has some of the most electric arm talent in the country, let alone the 2026 class, specifically. He ranked as the No. 37 player in the 2023 class out of high school, but made his way to campus at Stanford, where he showed flashes of sizzling dominance between lapses of control and command. Overall, Volchko posted a 5.89 ERA across two seasons and 113 innings to go with a 20.6% strikeout rate and 10.5% walk rate. He transferred to Georgia for the 2026 season alongside rotation-mate Matt Scott. Volchko has a 6-foot-4, 225-pound frame and throws from a high release point. He averaged 95 mph with his fastball and has been up to 99 with vicious cutting action on his heater. In addition to the fastball, Volchko can rip off a nasty, high-spin slider around 90 mph and a power curveball in the mid 80s that also has high spin rates. A low-90s cutter and a low-90s changeup round out his repertoire. Volchko’s pure stuff is nearly unmatched in this class, but to fully capitalize on it, he’ll need to make real strides with his control, command and consistency.
• Ranked #37 prospect in 2023 draft
  School: Redwood HS, Visalia, Calif. Source: HS
  
  Commit/Drafted: Stanford
  Age At Draft: 18.1
  BA Grade:55/Extreme
  Tools:Fastball: 60. Slider: 60. Curveball: 55. Changeup: 50. Control: 45.
  
  Volchko showed promising stuff at the 2022 Area Code Games with a low-90s fastball and a pair of solid breaking balls, but he struggled to throw strikes and had his outing rolled. He re-emerged this spring throwing harder with improved control and delivered one of the most dominant seasons in the nation for Redwood (Visalia, Calif.) High. He went 4-0, 0.26 with 67 strikeouts in 27 innings and became one of the fastest risers in the draft class. Volchko is a big, powerful righthander at 6-foot-4, 210 pounds. His fastball sits 91-94 mph and touches 96 with late tail out of an overhand slot. His best pitch is a potentially plus, 84-87 mph slider with late three-quarter tilt that disappears under barrels. He has advanced command of his slider and can lean on it when he doesn’t have his other pitches. Volchko complements his fastball and slider with an above-average curveball with big depth that he throws with conviction and can land for strikes. He rounds out his arsenal with a potentially average changeup. Volchko has some effort to his delivery and his command can be scattered, but he’s a good athlete and shows the ability to make in-game adjustments. He is one of the youngest players in the class and will be barely 18 on draft day. Volchko is committed to Stanford and will be costly to sign. His youth, stuff and physicality has teams increasingly willing to meet his bonus demands.