Joey Volchko

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #10 prospect in 2026 draft
  School:Stanford Age At Draft: 21.1
  
  When it comes to pure stuff in this year’s class, Volchko is unmatched. He deploys a funky delivery with his limbs flying at the opposing hitter, and features a mid-90s fastball—up to 100 this summer—that flashes run and ride through the zone. Volchko’s money-maker, though, is his hellacious upper-80s-to-low-90s power slider that consistently flashes sharp, two-plane break. For as impressive as his stuff is, there’s also some risk with Volchko. He’s largely a two-pitch guy whose pitchability will need to take a major step forward.
• Ranked #15 prospect in 2026 draft
  School:Stanford Age At Draft: 21.1
  
  When it comes to pure stuff in this year’s class, Volchko is unmatched. He deploys a funky delivery with his limbs flying at the opposing hitter, and features a mid-90s fastball—up to 100 this summer—that flashes run and ride through the zone. Volchko’s money-maker, though, is his hellacious upper-80s-to-low-90s power slider that consistently flashes sharp, two-plane break. For as impressive as his stuff is, there’s also some risk with Volchko. He’s largely a two-pitch guy whose pitchability will need to take a major step forward.
• 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.