Chris Volstad

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Miami Marlins #2 prospect in 2008
  Volstad committed to Miami out of high school. Though education was important to the family, it surprised no one when his stock rose to such an extent that he virtually had to turn pro. The first prep pitcher selected at No. 16 overall, Volstad quickly signed for $1.6 million. He pitched effectively at high Class A Jupiter for the first four months of 2007 and received a late promotion to Double-A Carolina. Volstad keeps his fastball in the zone, typically at 89-92 mph, and hitters routinely drive the pitch into the ground. He will touch 94 mph occasionally with his four-seamer and he could add another tick or two. Pitching coordinator Wayne Rosenthal and Jupiter pitching coach Reid Cornelius changed Volstad's curve to a modified spike grip, and the early results were outstanding. He also has the makings of a plus changeup. Extensive experience as a high school basketball player helped him improve his footwork and agility, and his makeup and intelligence draw rave reviews. Volstad gave up an alarming number of hits in 2007, and you'd expect to see more strikeouts. He needs to do a better job of elevating his fastball to make young hitters chase. Though he shows good coordination, Volstad's big frame makes maintaining his delivery more of a challenge. But he's right on schedule. He'll spend the first half of 2008 in Double-A, with a chance at a second-half callup to the majors. Whenever he arrives, he projects as a solid No. 3 starter for years to come.
• 
  Ranked Miami Marlins #1 prospect in 2007
  Volstad started generating buzz at the Area Code Games in the summer before his high school senior season. The Marlins, who sponsored his Area Code team, had at least one scout at all but two of his 13 senior starts. He might not have gotten to them with the 16th overall pick in 2005 had he not struggled with his control in his final outing, a loss in the Florida state playoffs. But when he did, there was no doubt the Marlins would take him. He was the perfect choice to headline what became a five-man rotation of young arms taken in the first and supplemental first-rounds of the 2005 draft: Aaron Thompson, Jacob Marceaux, Ryan Tucker and Sean West. The first prep pitcher selected in that draft, Volstad quickly signed for $1.6 million and wasted little time proving his worth. He rated as the top pitching prospect in both the Rookie-level Gulf Coast and short-season New York-Penn leagues in his debut. In his first full season, he followed up by ranking as the second-best mound prospect in the low Class A South Atlantic League. He overcame a rough May (1-4, 5.94) to allow two earned runs or fewer in 13 of his final 15 starts. A certified strike thrower, Volstad works his fastball effectively at 89-92 mph and touches 94 mph. His two-seamer has heavy sink, producing a 2.3 groundout-flyout ratio in 2006, and he has started to elevate his four-seamer to get overzealous hitters to chase balls out of the zone. He can throw his 80-82 mph curve for strikes and is doing a better job of varying speeds on it and burying it when necessary. He has a solid changeup for his experience level with the potential to make that a plus pitch as well. Volstad grew to his current 6-foot-7 height as a high school junior and credits his basketball background with improving his footwork and agility. That coordination leads to his uncanny control. The ability to mix it up in the lane couldn't have hurt his aggressiveness either. Volstad has strong makeup and good intelligence, both in a baseball and general sense, and takes coaching well. He's constantly poised on the mound, where he looks the same whether he's working on a no-hitter or one mistake from hitting the showers. If anything, Volstad has a tendency to be around the plate too much. That allows hitters to dig in and led to his struggles in May. He has averaged just 6.4 strikeouts per nine innings his first two seasons, another sign that he has been too hittable considering the quality of his stuff. Some non-believers say he might wind up as little more than a middle-of-the-rotation workhorse who won't blow hitters away. Volstad still needs to add muscle and grow into his frame, especially in the lower half. Though he's well coordinated, his long frame always will make it a challenge for him to maintain his delivery. Having avoided any major hiccups so far, Volstad will head to high Class A Jupiter along with several other members of the Class of '05. Like the Grasshoppers had in 2005, the Hammerheads likely will have a rotation comprised solely of first-rounders. With a talented young rotation already in the majors, the Marlins can afford to proceed cautiously with Volstad. He still could arrive for good by the end of 2008.
• 
  Ranked Miami Marlins #7 prospect in 2006
  Volstad struggled in his final high school start, throwing just 48 strikes in 92 pitches in a Florida state playoff loss, and that allowed him to fall to the Marlins as the 16th overall pick in the 2005 draft. After signing for a $1.6 million bonus, he ranked as the top pitching prospect in both the GCL and the short-season New York-Penn League. For his experience level, Volstad is polished. He shows good poise, sound mechanics, an easy and repeatable delivery and a willingness to take instruction. He pitches at 89-91 mph and tops out at 94 mph. He can bury his curveball when necessary or throw it for strikes. He has a solid changeup for his age and generally keeps the ball down in the strike zone. At times Volstad will slow his arm speed when he throws his changeup, and he'll also overthrow his curve. Adding strength would help him add velocity, and that should come with time. Volstad should start 2006 at low Class A Greensboro. From there he could move quickly through a system that knows how to develop starting pitching.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Southern League #6 prospect in 2008
  Volstad was the ace of a Carolina staff that featured other talented young arms in Brett Sinkbeil, Aaron Thompson, Tucker and Rick Vanden Hurk, but he separated himself with his performance at Double-A and in the big leagues. Volstad gets tremendous downward plane from his 6-foot-7 frame. He gives hitters fits when he throws his 90-94 mph fastball with heavy sink and run to both sides of the plate. Volstad doesn't strike out many batters, but he generates an abundance of groundouts and weak contact. His 78-81 mph spike curveball is a plus pitch with two-plane break that he tightened up this season. His 83-84 mph changeup makes him effective against lefthanders and often grades as an above-average offering as well. While taller pitchers often struggle with their mechanics, Volstad has clean arm action and a sound delivery. He had a tendency to drift, but he worked to keep his legs back longer to help his timing. He still needs to polish his command, though it should be above average once he gains more experience. "Chris Volstad to me is one of the most special guys that was in the minor leagues," an American League scout said, "and one of the most special guys to come through in the last five years of the draft."
• 
  Ranked Florida State League #11 prospect in 2007
  The Marlins planned on having four first-rounders in the Jupiter rotation. But Sean West was shut down before the season even began with a torn labrum, Aaron Thompson missed six weeks with shoulder tendinitis and Brett Sinkbeil had elbow and neck problems. Only Volstad stayed healthy, and he held his own against older hitters in the FSL before faring better following a late-July promotion to Double-A. His stuff is solid but not overwhelming, as he features a 90-92 mph fastball that he can locate to both sides of the plate. Volstad never has piled up strikeouts and likely never will, as his game is to keep the ball down and use his fastball and solid changeup to induce groundouts. His curveball ranks as his third pitch. He gives up a lot of hits, but he does a good job of throwing strikes down in the zone and limiting the damage.
• 
  Ranked South Atlantic League #6 prospect in 2006
  It's rare for a 19-year-old to have present command of three pitches, but Volstad does. The first high school pitcher drafted in 2005 lived up to expectations, overcoming a rocky May (1-4, 5.94) to allow two earned runs or less in 13 of his final 15 starts. At 6-foot-7, Volstad pitches on an excellent downhill plane. He pounds the lower half of the zone with a low-90s sinker that was responsible for his fine 2.3 ground/fly ratio. He typically throws his curveball at 80-82 mph, with the ability to add or subtract velocity from it. Because of his height, maintaining his mechanics will always be a challenge. The knock on Volstad this season was that he didn't miss enough bats, but his feel for pitching and knack for inducing grounders should get him to the majors quickly.
• 
  Ranked Florida Complex League #3 prospect in 2005
  The first of three Marlins first-round picks, Volstad was so advanced coming out of a Florida high school that he was promoted by midseason. Though he's 6-foot-7, he showed polished mechanics and a clean, effortless delivery with command of three pitches. He was not afraid to throw any pitch in any count. "I was the hitting coach for the Marlins in Double-A last year and I didn't see pitchers there with the command of all three pitches like he has," Rodriguez said. Volstad's fastball registered 91-92 mph in the GCL after being clocked consistently at 93-95 during the spring, but still had excellent natural movement. He showed two versions of a curveball, one that he threw for strikes, another he threw to get hitters to swing and miss. He also throws his changeup for strikes, though he tended to slow down his arm speed to throw the pitch, his only real mechanical flaw. Managers praised Volstad's makeup, particularly his understanding of the game and willingness to learn. He has excellent mound presence, went about his job like a pro and found a way to win when he didn't have his best stuff.
• 
  Ranked New York-Penn League #2 prospect in 2005
  Just 18, Volstad displayed impressive control for his age and possessed a polished approach more often associated with a pitcher drafted out of college. He ranked as the top pitching prospect in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League as well as the NY-P. At 6-foot-7 and 190 pounds, Volstad's body offers a lot of room for projection and, despite his lanky frame, his mechanics appear sound and he's not gawky. His fastball sits at 91-93 mph and he has advanced feel for his changeup. He commands both pitches well and isn't afraid to throw either in any count. He has a tendency to overthrow his curveball, but it should develop into a serviceable pitch.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #58 prospect in 2008
• Ranked Baseball America's #40 prospect in 2007
• Ranked Baseball America's #97 prospect in 2006

• December, 2006 Scouting Report
  Volstad started generating buzz at the Area Code Games in the summer before his high school senior season. The Marlins, who sponsored his Area Code team, had at least one scout at all but two of his 13 senior starts. He might not have gotten to them with the 16th overall pick in 2005 had he not struggled with his control in his final outing, a loss in the Florida state playoffs. But when he did, there was no doubt the Marlins would take him. He was the perfect choice to headline what became a five-man rotation of young arms taken in the first and supplemental first-rounds of the 2005 draft: Aaron Thompson, Jacob Marceaux, Ryan Tucker and Sean West. The first prep pitcher selected in that draft, Volstad quickly signed for $1.6 million and wasted little time proving his worth. He rated as the top pitching prospect in both the Rookie-level Gulf Coast and short-season New York-Penn leagues in his debut. In his first full season, he followed up by ranking as the second-best mound prospect in the low Class A South Atlantic League. He overcame a rough May (1-4, 5.94) to allow two earned runs or fewer in 13 of his final 15 starts. A certified strike thrower, Volstad works his fastball effectively at 89-92 mph and touches 94 mph. His two-seamer has heavy sink, producing a 2.3 groundout-flyout ratio in 2006, and he has started to elevate his four-seamer to get overzealous hitters to chase balls out of the zone. He can throw his 80-82 mph curve for strikes and is doing a better job of varying speeds on it and burying it when necessary. He has a solid changeup for his experience level with the potential to make that a plus pitch as well. Volstad grew to his current 6-foot-7 height as a high school junior and credits his basketball background with improving his footwork and agility. That coordination leads to his uncanny control. The ability to mix it up in the lane couldn't have hurt his aggressiveness either. Volstad has strong makeup and good intelligence, both in a baseball and general sense, and takes coaching well. He's constantly poised on the mound, where he looks the same whether he's working on a no-hitter or one mistake from hitting the showers. If anything, Volstad has a tendency to be around the plate too much. That allows hitters to dig in and led to his struggles in May. He has averaged just 6.4 strikeouts per nine innings his first two seasons, another sign that he has been too hittable considering the quality of his stuff. Some non-believers say he might wind up as little more than a middle-of-the-rotation workhorse who won't blow hitters away. Volstad still needs to add muscle and grow into his frame, especially in the lower half. Though he's well coordinated, his long frame always will make it a challenge for him to maintain his delivery. Having avoided any major hiccups so far, Volstad will head to high Class A Jupiter along with several other members of the Class of '05. Like the Grasshoppers had in 2005, the Hammerheads likely will have a rotation comprised solely of first-rounders. With a talented young rotation already in the majors, the Marlins can afford to proceed cautiously with Volstad. He still could arrive for good by the end of 2008.