Joey Volchko

IMPROVEMENT AREAS

• Evaluate sustained performance with level and age context
• Review role fit, health, roster status, and organization need

SCOUT REPORT

Volchko had one of the most electric arms in the 2023 high school class and drew comparisons to a young Noah Syndergaard, but he was too erratic to try to lure away from his Stanford commitment. That scouting report still holds true after he logged a 5.89 ERA in two seasons with the Cardinal and improved at Georgia in 2026. He ranked third in NCAA Division I with 11 wins, the last of which was a 15-strikeout complete game against Texas at the College World Series. Though Volchko maintains mid-90s velocity throughout his starts and has reached 101 mph, his fastball isn't as dominant as might be expected. His heater lacks life, featuring some modest cutting action, and he doesn't command it well, so it can get very hittable at times. His best pitch is a tight slider that sits in the upper 80s that has added more sweep under Johnson and he sometimes will turn it into a low-80s cutter. Volchko also fiddles with a low-90s splitter/changeup and a low-80s curveball but can't land either for strikes. He employs a fairly simple delivery with a leg lift but often scatters his pitches. He has a durable 6-foot-4 frame, athleticism and a quick arm that could help him fit in the front half of a rotation if he can find some finesse to go with his power.