1 hour ago1 hr Author 27 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:We should still quite a bit of money to play with I’d think, at least for one more big time prospect. Beyond that depends on what kind of deals Thome & Prosek agreed to.Cursory guess we have 5 to 6 million left to play with? Take 2 big swings and punt the rest? Play it straight?
1 hour ago1 hr 2 minutes ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:Love everything about contreras. Sitting 94, touching 97 but projects into the velo. Big frame that hasn't filled out. One elite secondary in that splitork that is developed and just needs reps/command.Was fun to watch in the WBC. Flaws on display but tools screaming.Contreras would be a legit get
1 hour ago1 hr 2 minutes ago, DirtySox said:Cursory guess we have 5 to 6 million left to play with? Take 2 big swings and punt the rest? Play it straight?I think one big swing and one medium swing would be ideal, so you can take a couple guys tomorrow who might be something
1 hour ago1 hr Author 2 minutes ago, white sox 80 said:Who do you want?I wanted one of the prep arms, but I understand the desire for a college arm.
1 hour ago1 hr I knew they would snag him, even had him at this very pick in my original predictions!! This is a classic high risk, high reward college arm the Sox have historically loved!!!10/10 draft class now!!!!!!!!
1 hour ago1 hr Author 2 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:I knew they would snag him, even had him at this very pick in my original predictions!! This is a classic high risk, high reward college arm the Sox have historically loved!!!10/10 draft class now!!!!!!!!Yup. Definitely a trend. We were due for one of these. I wonder what the cost is here.
1 hour ago1 hr Who’s the big prep arm coming next? I’m hoping it isn’t Contreras and we are able to push him down to 5.
1 hour ago1 hr Author 77. Joey Volchko RHPHt: 6'4" | Wt: 225 | B-T: R-RSchool: Georgia. Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted. Age At Draft: 21.0.BA Grade/Risk: 55/HighAdjusted Grade: 40Volchko has flashed premium arm talent for years, but his inability to harness his stuff consistently has made him an enigma. Despite ranking as the No. 37 player in the 2023 class out of high school, Volchko made it to Stanford, where he pitched for two seasons. He transferred to Georgia in 2026 and had a career-best year, with a 3.68 ERA in 18 starts and 95.1 innings. At 6-foot-4, 225 pounds, Volchko has a premium pitcher’s frame with a quick arm and quality stuff. He throws a unique fastball that averages around 95 mph and has been up to 98-99. The pitch has very little riding life but a lot of natural cut, which leads to a high groundball rate. Volchko added more sweeping action to his high-spin slider in the upper 80s, and he now has a distinct cutter in the low 90s and a spike-grip power curveball in the low 80s with 12-to-6 shape. Volchko generates standout spin rates across his arsenal, but he lacks an armside offering that will help him stave off lefthanded hitters. Despite Volchko’s impressive pure stuff, he has never struck out more than 30% of hitters in a season, and his below-average control gives him significant reliever risk in pro ball. He made tweaks in 2026, including lowering his release point, but he still walked 11.2% of the batters he faced.
1 hour ago1 hr Author 41.) Joey Volchko RHPEverything about Vochko fits the "prototype". It's a 6-foot-4-inch, 225-lb frame with a cutting fastball that explodes generates weak swings and feeble ground balls. He's been up to 100 mph and will like 95-97, but has struggled to miss bats or induce chase with the heater throughout his collegiate career. Volchko generates huge spin on his entire arsenal and the fastball possesses some of the biggest spin rates of any fastball in the class. He throws a more conventional cutter with diving life as well, also high in velocity.He's got two breaking balls, a low-90s slider that used to produce more bullet shape is now showing true sweep in Athens. It's a potential plus-or-better weapon going forward so long as he's establishing the fastball where he wants to in the zone. He generates strong chase and whiffs rates on the sweeper thanks to its firmness and elite spin rates.He's shown good conviction and bite on a traditional slurvy bender too, however it lacks dynamic vertical depth and he doesn't throw it often. There's a bit more growing to do in the polish department, and the operation will tighten up as he gets older, but the arm is loose and the athlete is exceptional.Volchko is throwing an upper-80s changeup a lot more as a Georgia Bulldog. It's critical for his ability to punch out left-handed hitters. For much of his amateur career, everything he's thrown has moved the same direction. That is no longer always the case.Volchko has struggled at times during his collegiate career, partially due to the aformentioned fact most of the pitches in his arsenal act the same. He struggles to create various pitch shapes and doesn't particularly move the ball in a loud way north-south or east-west. He jumped into the portal in large part because he needed his pitch mix and pitch design reworked for the 2026 season and that seems to have worked in a big way. His command is still fringy and walks can still shorten his outings. A high-leverage bullpen role as a professional is very possible.Volchko turned down considerable money in the 2023 Draft and now appears primed to do well in 2026.
1 hour ago1 hr Volchko‘s funky delivery screams future reliever to me…but we’ll see. The arm is worth a shot on for sure
1 hour ago1 hr 2 minutes ago, DirtySox said:I wanted one of the prep arms, but I understand the desire for a college arm.Volchko stuff looks nasty. I have my questions with the sox pitching development to harness it. Do you think one of your wants can last to the Sox next pick?
1 hour ago1 hr 5 minutes ago, DirtySox said:Yup. Definitely a trend. We were due for one of these. I wonder what the cost is here.I’m guessing a bit above slot but nothing crazy. This still leaves Contreras as an option for the 4th too IMO.
1 hour ago1 hr Do you think there is play for Contreras in the 4th round? I would think just by guessing: 1st Pick: Roch- Underslot34th: Pick: Thomas- Slot Value41st: Pick: Prosek- Over Slot Value- I just have a feeling they had to pay him. 77th Pick: Volchko- Slot Value105 Pick: Hopefully Contreras with a little extra money they saved from Roch
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