Fresno-area baseball players in the MLB draft. See who was taken by clubs
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- The Chicago White Sox selected Joey Volchko in the third round, 77th overall.
- Volchko posted an 11-2 record with a 3.68 ERA and 119 strikeouts for Georgia in 2025.
- As a Redwood High senior he went 7-2 with a 0.59 ERA and 134 strikeouts over 59 innings.
Three years after starring at Redwood High, Joey Volchko has taken the next step toward the major leagues.
The Chicago White Sox selected the right-handed pitcher in the third round with the 77th overall pick in Saturday’s MLB draft. The slot value for the selection is approximately $1.09 million.
Volchko spent two seasons at Stanford before transferring to Georgia, where he emerged as the Bulldogs’ ace in 2026.
He helped lead Georgia to a 53-14 record and a third-place finish at the College World Series, compiling an 11-2 record with a 3.68 ERA and 119 strikeouts. His 11 victories ranked third nationally, highlighted by a 15-strikeout complete-game performance against Texas in the College World Series.
Volchko’s professional opportunity comes after a standout high school career at Redwood.
As a senior, he was named The Fresno Bee Large School Player of the Year after posting a 7-2 record with a 0.59 ERA over 59 innings and striking out 134 batters.
He also excelled offensively, batting .442 with a .500 on-base percentage. Volchko drove in 38 runs, scored 22, collected eight doubles and three triples, and hit eight home runs.
Also, former Kingsburg High star Jensen Hirschkorn was also taken a few sports after Volchko in the third round by the Atlanta Braves.
Logan Georges, Drew Smith, Mikey Bell taken by MLB clubs
Former Clovis High pitcher Logan Georges was selected in the 11th round by the Tampa Bay Rays, and former Buchanan High third baseman Drew Smith, who played at Oregon, was taken by the San Francisco Giants in the 15th round.
Former San Joaquin Memorial standout Mikey Bell of Gonzaga was selected in the 19th round by the San Francisco Giants.
This story was originally published July 12, 2026 at 12:13 PM with the headline "Fresno-area baseball players in the MLB draft. See who was taken by clubs."
