Draft stock watch: Volchko's 15-K gem, underclassmen shine at Men's College World Series

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With only seven teams left playing in Omaha, the number of Draft prospects playing keeps dwindling, but the spotlight is getting brighter and brighter. There are several prospects making strong cases for rising up Draft boards next month.

With seven games in the books, here are the seven stars of the past week.

Joey Volchko, RHP, Georgia
Rank: BA 68, MLB 73
This week: Win, 9 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 15 SO
Overall: 11-2, 3.68, 18 GS, 95.1 IP, 82 H, 46 R, 39 ER, 46 BB, 119 SO

Volchko authored the best start of his career in the biggest game he’s ever pitched. Volchko dominated Texas’ potent lineup, getting ahead of batters and then wearing them out with his power curve. Volchko’s previous longest outing was just 6 2/3 innings, but this complete-game win ensures Georgia’s deep bullpen will be fully rested for Monday’s winners'-bracket game against Oklahoma. Control problems have long been Volchko’s biggest issue, but he’s shown this week what he can do at his best.

Jimmy Janicki, C, Troy
Rank: BA 27 (2027 College)
This week: .444/.555/1.333 (4-for-9), 4 R, 1 2B, 2 HR, 2 BB, 1 SO
Overall: .344/.417/.667 (96-for-267), 67 R, 25 2B, 1 3B, 21 HR, 87 RBIs, 31 BB, 42 SO, 4 SB

Janicki is one of the main reasons Troy made it to the Men's College World Series, and he’s a key reason the Trojans knocked out Ole Miss and will play again on Tuesday. Janicki has homered in both of Troy’s first two MCWS games. He was Troy’s everyday third baseman as a freshman last season, but he hit only two home runs all year. Moving to catcher this year, Janicki has become one of the better sophomore sluggers in the country and has a chance to be a first-round pick in 2027.

Cord Rager, LHP, Oklahoma
Rank: BA 18 (2028 College)
This week: Win. 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 SO
Overall: 6-3, 4.69, 15 GS, 71 IP, 53 H, 31 R, 31 ER, 19 BB, 89 SO

In their crucial first game of the College World Series, Oklahoma turned to its fabulous freshman. Rager has been a starting pitcher for Oklahoma all season, but he’s found another gear in the most important stretch of the campaign. Rager allowed just one hit in six scoreless innings as Oklahoma beat Kansas, and he was just as good against Alabama.

Jason DeCaro, RHP, North Carolina
Rank: BA 90, MLB 125
This week: ND. 6.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 9 SO
Overall: 11-2, 2.31, 18 G, 18 GS, 93.2 IP, 78 H, 30 R, 24 ER, 7 HR, 41 BB, 93 SO

It wasn’t as impressive as his complete-game dominance against Southern California in the Super Regional, but DeCaro once again was at his best in the biggest moments. The Tar Heels ace was tapped for their opener against Ole Miss and DeCaro was generally in command. There are pitchers with nastier pure stuff, but few can match DeCaro’s consistency and lengthy track record of college success. He has not allowed four earned runs in any start all season. On Friday, DeCaro induced 15 swings and misses: seven with his 92-94 mph fastball, six with his changeup and two with his curve.

Deiten Lachance, C, Oklahoma
Rank: BA 223, MLB NR
This week: 2-for-5, 3 R, HR, 2 RBIs
Overall: .333/.406/.618 (75-for-225), 47 R, 12 2B, 2 3B, 16 HR, 64 RBIs, 28 BB, 43 SO, 2 SB

At 6-foot-5, 231 pounds, Lachance is a massive catcher who spent the previous two seasons at McLennan (Texas) JC. He’s one of the main reasons the Sooners’ lineup has found another gear in the postseason. Lachance has four postseason homers, and he led the Sooners past Alabama even despite having a balky ankle after turning it running into second base. Lachance scored Oklahoma’s first run in the first inning, and his two-run home run helped cement the win. Lachance’s 16 homers and 64 RBIs both lead the team, and his .333 average ranks second.

Dylan Volantis, LHP, Texas
Rank: BA 15 (2027 College)
This week: 6.1 IP, 4 H, 7 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 9 SO
Overall: 10-2, 2.08, 17 G, 16 GS, 95 IP, 67 H, 28 R, 22 ER, 3 HR, 28 BB, 135 SO

Volantis has been excellent for the Longhorns this year, but Georgia took advantage of miscues to rack up five unearned runs. He gave up a two-run homer in the first, but Georgia added two more runs when two batters reached on strikeouts after catcher Carson Tinney couldn’t make two throws to first base. Volantis retired the next 15 batters in order, but an error to start the sixth, a wild pitch, a double and a single chased Volantis from the game. His curveball was very effective, and Volantis was better than his final line may indicate.

Tyler Fay, RHP, Alabama
Rank: BA 122, MLB NR
This week: Loss. 6 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO
Overall: 11-5, 4.54, 18 GS, 109 IP, 91 H, 56 R, 55 ER, 26 BB, 127 SO

Fay didn’t have his typical control this week, and his results suffered because of it. Normally Fay succeeds because he stays out of hitters counts. In his loss this week, Fay’s strike percentage dipped from his normal 65% to 61%. Fay hung a slider that Lachance crushed for a two-run home run, but Fay wasn’t that far away from being reasonably effective.