Transfer Joey Volchko brings "electric arm" to Athens
When it comes to arm talent, new Georgia transfer commit Joey Volchko appears to be special.
Baseball America calls him “one of the more intriguing arms,” placing him 15th on its 2026 MLB Draft Board.
Even if his two-year numbers at Sanford aren’t exactly impressive, his stuff is electric. In two years at the school, he has an ERA of 5.89 with 72 walks and 109 strikeouts in 113 innings.
However, the upside is off the charts.
With a fastball that can touch triple-digits, a power slider, and a curve, Volchko has all the tools. But there’s work to do.
That’s where Wes Johnson comes in.
You cannot coach arm talent. But you can coach mechanics, and if Johnson can get him on track, watch out.
Volchko chose the Bulldogs over Arkansas and LSU.
He’ll join former Cardinal teammate Matt Scott, who committed to Georgia out of the portal last month. The website 64Analytics.com rates Volchko as the second-best player in the portal. Scott ranks No. 5.
Volchko the latest of a batch of pitchers added via the portal
He is the 13th pitcher to commit out of the portal to Georgia, including lefty two-way player Kenny Ishikawa.
Others include Michigan’s Dylan Vigue, USC’s Caden Aoki, West Georgia’s Lane Pearson, and Grant Edwards from New Orleans.
The four are ranked among 64Analytics’ top 137 available players.
Others include UConn’s Thomas Ellisen, Baylor’s Caleb Johnson, GW’s Teddy Brennan, and Ohio State’s Blaine Wynk, drafted in the 8th round by the Chicago White Sox.
The Bulldogs also added former Tennessee reliever Andrew Behnke.
Johnson has had holes to fill.
JT Quinn (Baltimore) signed with Baltimore. Bryan Curley (Arizona) and Leighton Finley (Boston) are expected to also sign.
The Bulldogs could also lose underclassmen Zach Harris (11th round, Rockies), Matthew Hoskins (12th round, Royals), and Davis Chastain (14th round, Los Angeles).
Chastain announced Sunday that he was signing with the Dodgers.
Meanwhile, the Mets drafted Tyler McLoughlin in the 10th round. He spent last season as a redshirt senior.
Georgia also expects to lose freshman Dean Livingston, drafted in the fourth round by Arizona.
Current Bulldogs eligible to return include Jordan Stephens, Paul Farley, Zach Brown, Justin Byrd, and Luke Wiltrakis.
Lefty Bradley Stewart (Tommy John) also remains with the team.
The Bulldogs also welcome incoming freshmen Joe Nottingham and lefty Jackson Peavy.
