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Christopher Kenneth Volstad (born September 23, 1986) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He is a 2005 graduate of Palm Beach Gardens High School. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Florida Marlins, Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Chicago White Sox, and in the KBO League for the Doosan Bears.

Key Information

Volstad was drafted with the 16th pick in the 2005 Major League Baseball draft, the first of three first round picks for the Marlins that year.

Amateur career

[edit]

Volstad played in amateur baseball tournaments from a young age, winning the championship in a 12-and-under travel competition for a team representing Broward and Palm Beach counties, against a team representing California's Central Valley, at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. David Adams was a teammate.[1]

Volstad graduated from Palm Beach Gardens Community High School in 2005, pitching to a 7-2 win–loss record with one save and a 0.41 earned run average (ERA) in 10 games for the school's baseball team as a senior, striking out 98 batters and walking just eight in 69 innings pitched. He led his team deep into the regional playoffs, coming up one game short of States.[citation needed]

Professional career

[edit]

Florida Marlins

[edit]

Minor leagues

[edit]

In his first season of professional baseball, Volstad went 4-3 in 13 starts (with 55 strikeout in 65 innings pitched) between the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Marlins and Jamestown Jammers of the New York–Penn League (Low-A) with a 2.22 ERA.

Volstad never returned to Jamestown, instead starting out 2006 with the Greensboro Grasshoppers of the South Atlantic League (Single-A). He went 11-8 over 26 starts with a 3.08 ERA. Volstad was subsequently named the Marlins' #1 prospect in Baseball America's annual rankings.

Volstad started his second full pro season with the Jupiter Hammerheads of the Florida State League (High-A). He struggled somewhat compared to his first season and a half, going 8-9 in 21 games (20 starts) with a 4.50 ERA. However, in later action with Florida's Double-A affiliate, the Carolina Mudcats of the Southern League, Volstad improved to a 4-2 record and a 3.16 ERA.

In 2008, Volstad continued at Carolina, posting a 4-4 record, 3.36 ERA in 15 starts before being promoted to the major leagues.

Major leagues

[edit]

On July 6, 2008, the Marlins purchased Volstad's contract and added him to the active roster. He made his major league debut the same day in a game against the Colorado Rockies, earning the win with two scoreless innings from the bullpen.[2]

On July 11, Volstad started his first major league game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, earning the win and baffling the Dodger hitters with a 94 mph fastball and sharp 12-6 curveball. Volstad pitched 8+2⁄3 innings, and gave up 1 run on 5 hits, striking out 6. Volstad added his first major league hit in this game: a single off the Dodgers starter Eric Stults. On August 7, Volstad delivered a masterful performance against the NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies to reduce their lead in the division to 1+1⁄2 games. He pitched 6 innings of shutout baseball, outdueling Cole Hamels of the Phillies.

On July 8, 2009, Volstad pitched what many could argue as the best game of his career. Against the San Francisco Giants, he pitched his first career complete game allowing only five hits and no runs; his win helped the Marlins avoid a sweep. In late August, he was sent to the Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs[3] after a 1+2⁄3 inning start against the San Diego Padres.

In September 2010, Volstad was involved in a bench clearing brawl against the Washington Nationals. In the day's previous game, the Nationals' Nyjer Morgan intentionally ran into Marlins' catcher Brett Hayes on a play at home plate where Morgan was called out. Hayes separated his shoulder and it was determined later that night that he would miss the remainder of the season. In Morgan's first at-bat, Volstad threw at Morgan, hitting him. Morgan proceeded to steal two bases when the Marlins had an almost double digit lead, breaking an unwritten rule of ethics in the game. Offended by Morgan once again, Volstad threw another pitch at Morgan in his next at-bat, with it going behind Morgan's back. He was promptly ejected for throwing at him, and Morgan then quickly charged the mound, despite the fact that Volstad stood nearly a foot taller than him. Morgan's punch connected, and Morgan was promptly knocked to the ground by Marlins' first baseman Gaby Sánchez, resulting in the bench-clearing brawl.[4] After the game, Volstad sported a shiner from the Morgan punch.[5] Volstad was suspended for 6 games because of the incident.

Chicago Cubs

[edit]

On January 5, 2012, the Marlins traded Volstad to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for Carlos Zambrano. On May 18, Volstad was optioned to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs after an 0-6 slump.[6] On July 3, Volstad was recalled by the Cubs.[7] He made a start later that day, giving up six runs over 4+1⁄3 innings, and getting the loss against the Atlanta Braves.

Colorado Rockies

[edit]

On October 26, 2012, Volstad was claimed off of waivers by the Kansas City Royals.[8] On November 20, Volstad was designated for assignment in order to clear room on the 40-man roster.[9] He elected free agency on November 28.

On February 4, 2013, Volstad signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies, with a chance to compete for a spot in the Colorado rotation.[10] He had his contract selected to the major league roster on March 29. After allowing 10 runs in six games for the Rockies, Volstad was placed on waivers on June 20; he cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox on June 22.[11] Volstad became a free agent on October 1.[12]

Doosan Bears

[edit]

On November 5, 2013, Volstad signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.[13] He was released on December 27.

On December 19, 2013, Volstad signed with the Doosan Bears of the KBO League. However, he was ineffective for the Bears, who released him at midseason.[14]

Los Angeles Angels

[edit]

On July 19, 2014, Volstad signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels. He became a free agent following the season on November 2.

Pittsburgh Pirates

[edit]

On January 30, 2015, the Pittsburgh Pirates signed Volstad to a minor league contract.[15] On June 24, the Pirates selected Volstad's contract, adding him to their active roster.[16] That day, he pitched two scoreless relief innings for the team. Volstad was designated for assignment alongside José Tábata on June 28 to make room for Gorkys Hernández and Steve Lombardozzi Jr.; he cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians on July 2.[17] Volstad elected free agency following the season on October 5.

Chicago White Sox

[edit]

On October 30, 2015, Volstad signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves.[18] He was released prior to the start of the season on March 12, 2016.[19]

On March 24, 2016, Volstad signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox. In 29 games (27 starts) for the Triple–A Charlotte Knights, he compiled an 8–11 record and 4.79 ERA with 84 strikeouts across 176+2⁄3 innings pitched. Volstad elected free agency following the season on November 7.[20]

On December 24, 2016, Volstad re–signed with the White Sox on a new minor league contract.[21] He was first called up by the White Sox on September 8, 2017, and made 6 appearances for the club, including 2 starts. On October 4, Volstad was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to Triple-A Charlotte.[22]

On January 22, 2018, Volstad re-signed with Chicago on another minor league deal.[23] His contract was selected by the White Sox on April 12.[24] Volstad spent the majority of the season in the White Sox's bullpen, compiling the most innings he'd pitched in the majors since 2012. In 47+1⁄3 innings, he was 1-5 with a 6.27 ERA. Volstad was designated for assignment on July 27.[25] He was released by the team on July 31.

On February 16, 2020, Volstad signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds. He was released prior to the start of the season.

Pitching style

[edit]

Volstad was a sinkerballer. He threw his sinker about half the time, averaging at 91 MPH. His secondary pitch was a mid-80s slider. He also featured a straight fastball, a curveball, and a changeup. He threw his changeup primarily to left-handed hitters, and his slider primarily to right-handed hitters.[26]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Chris Volstad

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Christopher Kenneth Volstad (born September 23, 1986) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He was selected by the Florida Marlins in the first round, 16th overall, of the out of Palm Beach Gardens High School in . Standing at 6 feet 8 inches (203 cm) and weighing 235 pounds (107 kg), Volstad batted and threw right-handed throughout his career. Volstad made his MLB debut with the Marlins on July 6, 2008, and appeared in 170 games over nine seasons, compiling a career record of 37 wins and 58 losses with a 5.00 earned run average (ERA) and 481 strikeouts in 772.1 innings pitched. His most notable season came in 2010, when he recorded 12 wins for the Marlins while posting a 4.58 ERA in 175 innings. After being traded to the Chicago Cubs in December 2011, he played for several MLB teams, including the Colorado Rockies, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Chicago White Sox, as well as a stint in the Korea Baseball Organization with the Doosan Bears in 2014, before concluding his MLB career in 2018. In , while still active in , Volstad co-founded Brewing Company in , alongside his cousin Karl Volstad and friend Evan Miller, marking his transition into the industry. The brewery, known for its innovative hazy IPAs and community-focused events, expanded to a second location in West Palm Beach by 2018.

Early life and amateur career

Early life and education

Christopher Kenneth Volstad was born on September 23, 1986, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. He grew up in the Garden Woods neighborhood of Palm Beach Gardens alongside his parents, Ken and Colleen, and his two siblings: younger brother Kyle and older sister Carrie. His father owned a 1926 Model T Ford, and the family maintained a close-knit home environment, with Volstad and his brother sharing a bedroom throughout their youth. Volstad's early years in fostered his involvement in local youth activities, though specific details on pre-high school baseball experiences, such as participation in little leagues, are not widely documented in available records. The region's strong culture likely influenced his initial interest in the sport, as he remained connected to his family home even during early professional opportunities. Volstad attended Palm Beach Gardens Community High from 2001 to 2005, graduating in the spring of that year. While at the school, his later became an algebra teacher there, highlighting the family's ties to the institution. Information on Volstad's non-baseball academic or extracurricular pursuits during high school is limited in public sources.

High school career

Chris Volstad attended Palm Beach Gardens High School in , from 2001 to 2005, where he emerged as a standout right-handed pitcher and for the Gators team. As a senior in 2005, he primarily served as a , compiling a 7-2 win-loss record with one save, a 0.41 (ERA), and 98 strikeouts over 10 games, demonstrating exceptional command and dominance on the . His performance contributed significantly to the team's success, including leading Palm Beach Gardens to the Class 6A state semifinals. In addition to his pitching prowess, Volstad showcased offensive capabilities during his senior season, batting .315 with 19 RBIs, which highlighted his versatility as a . His overall excellence earned him multiple accolades, including selection to the Sports Writers Association's Class 6A First Team All-State as a and recognition as the Sun-Sentinel's large school Player of the Year for Palm Beach County. He was also named the Palm Beach Post's Large Schools Player of the Year, underscoring his status as one of the top high school prospects in the region. Volstad graduated from Palm Beach Gardens High School in 2005 and chose to forgo , despite having committed to play for the , entering the professional ranks directly after being identified as a highly projectable talent due to his 6-foot-8 frame, fluid arm action, and potential for further development.

MLB draft selection

Chris Volstad was selected by the Marlins with the 16th overall pick in the first round of the out of Palm Beach Gardens High School in . His standout senior season, marked by a 7-2 record with one save, a 0.41 , 98 strikeouts, and just 8 walks over 69 in 10 games, had elevated his prospect status among high school pitchers. Scouting reports praised Volstad's imposing 6-foot-7 frame and projectable right-handed delivery, identifying him as a high-upside with a that could reach 94 mph. Analysts viewed him as the top high school arm available in the draft, offering significant value for the Marlins at their slot. On June 17, 2005, Volstad signed a minor league contract with the Marlins, receiving a $1.6 million —slightly below the slot value for the 16th pick but reflective of standard terms for high school draftees committing to professional development. Following the signing, the Marlins assigned the 18-year-old Volstad to their rookie-level affiliate in the Gulf Coast League, where he made his professional debut, before moving him to the short-season Class A later that summer.

Professional career

Minor league career with Marlins affiliates

Volstad began his career in after being selected 16th overall in the MLB Draft by the Florida Marlins, signing for a $1.6 million bonus. He split his rookie season between the Gulf Coast League Marlins (Rookie level), where he posted a 1-1 record with a 2.33 over 27 and 26 strikeouts, and the short-season (Class A-), recording a 3-2 mark with a 2.13 in 38 and 29 strikeouts. Overall, Volstad went 4-3 with a 2.25 in 13 starts across both affiliates, demonstrating early command and potential as a tall, projectable right-hander adjusting to hitters. In 2006, Volstad advanced to Low-A , where he emerged as a standout performer, leading all Marlins minor leaguers with an 11-8 record, a 3.08 , 152 , and 99 strikeouts in 27 starts. This season marked his first full year in the system and highlighted his durability and growth in workload, earning him recognition as the No. 4 prospect in the Marlins organization and No. 97 overall in Baseball America's top 100 MLB prospects list. Volstad's 2007 campaign involved further progression, starting at High-A Jupiter Hammerheads before a midseason promotion to Double-A Carolina Mudcats. At Jupiter, he recorded an 8-9 record with a 4.50 ERA over 126 innings and 93 strikeouts in 20 starts, facing challenges with increased competition that led to more hits allowed and a higher walk rate compared to his Low-A season. Despite these adjustments, his promotion to Carolina yielded stronger results: a 4-2 record, 3.16 ERA, and 25 strikeouts in 42.2 innings across eight starts. Combined, Volstad made 28 appearances (27 starts) with a 12-11 record and 4.21 ERA, earning Marlins Minor League Pitcher of the Year honors from Baseball America and rising to No. 1 in the organization's prospect rankings and No. 40 overall in MLB. Entering 2008 as the Marlins' top prospect (ranked No. 58 overall by Baseball America), Volstad returned to Double-A , where he went 4-4 with a 3.36 , 91 , and 56 strikeouts in 16 starts, showing refined control and consistency that positioned him for a major league call-up. No significant injuries hampered his early development, though he navigated typical challenges like refining secondary pitches against advanced hitters. His performance culminated in a promotion to the Florida Marlins on July 6, 2008, after just over three seasons in the system.

Florida Marlins

Chris Volstad made his major league debut with the Florida Marlins on July 6, 2008, entering in relief against the Colorado Rockies at , where he pitched two scoreless innings to earn the win in a 10-5 victory. In his season, Volstad transitioned to a starting role and posted a 6-4 record with a 2.88 over 14 starts and 70.1 , allowing 67 hits while striking out 52 batters. Volstad secured a full-time spot in the Marlins' rotation in 2009, recording a 9-13 mark with a 5.21 ERA in 29 starts and 159 innings, during which he notched his first career complete game—a shutout on July 8 against the San Francisco Giants, limiting them to five hits in a 5-0 win. His performance improved in 2010, when he achieved career highs with 12 wins against nine losses, a 4.58 ERA across 30 starts and 175 innings, and two complete games: a four-hitter victory over the Washington Nationals on May 2 (7-1) and a shutout against the St. Louis Cardinals on September 20 (4-0). However, 2011 marked a challenging year, as Volstad struggled to a 5-13 record with a 4.89 ERA in 29 starts and 165.2 innings, though he set a personal best with 117 strikeouts. Following the 2011 season, the Marlins traded Volstad to the Chicago Cubs on , 2012, in exchange for pitcher and cash considerations.

Chicago Cubs

On , 2012, the Chicago Cubs acquired Chris Volstad from the in exchange for pitcher , with the Cubs agreeing to cover approximately $15 million of Zambrano's $18 million salary for the upcoming season. Volstad entered the 2012 campaign as a projected member of the Cubs' starting rotation under new manager , bringing four years of major league experience primarily as a starter. Volstad's tenure with the Cubs proved challenging, as he posted a 3-12 record with a 6.31 over 111.1 in 34 appearances, including 21 starts. Early in the season, he struggled significantly with command, walking 43 batters while striking out 61 and allowing 137 hits, which contributed to an inflated that reached 7.46 through his first eight starts. This led to a transition from a full-time starter to an occasional reliever, with Volstad making 13 relief outings as the team sought to stabilize the pitching staff amid broader rotation inconsistencies. Notable setbacks included multiple demotions to Triple-A . On May 18, 2012, Volstad was optioned to the after his poor start, where he spent time rebuilding his form before being recalled on July 3; he was demoted again on July 8 following further inconsistencies. These moves highlighted ongoing issues with pitch location and effectiveness against major league hitters, as Volstad allowed 81 earned runs and surrendered 16 home runs during his Cubs stint. Following the 2012 season, the Cubs waived Volstad on October 26, effectively ending his time with the organization as he cleared waivers and became a candidate, though he was immediately claimed by the .

Colorado Rockies

Following his free agency from the Chicago Cubs at the end of the 2012 season, Chris Volstad signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies on January 20, 2013, including a $1.5 million guarantee if added to the major league roster. He impressed enough in to secure a spot on the roster as a . Volstad made his first appearance with the Rockies on April 3, 2013, and over two stints in the majors, he appeared in six relief outings, posting a 10.80 over 8.1 with 19 hits allowed, one walk, three strikeouts, and one . His struggles were particularly pronounced at , where the high altitude exacerbated his command issues and contributed to high run totals in limited exposure there. The Rockies recalled him from Triple-A on ; after allowing eight runs in 3.1 innings during a June 16 outing, they optioned him to Triple-A on and then designated him for assignment on to make room for . He cleared waivers and was outrighted to the on June 22. In Triple-A with the Sky Sox of the , Volstad spent the remainder of the 2013 season as a starter, going 7-6 with a 4.58 over 23 appearances (22 starts) and 127.2 , leading the team in victories while recording 57 strikeouts and 44 walks. His performance in the hitter-friendly league showed some stabilization compared to his major league stint, though his of 1.567 reflected ongoing contact issues. The Rockies released Volstad as a on November 5, 2013, ending his brief tenure with the organization. During the 2013-14 offseason, Volstad pitched for in the Dominican Winter League, making five starts with a 2-2 record, 5.40 ERA, and 11 strikeouts over 21.2 innings.

Doosan Bears

Following his release from the Rockies and a brief stint with the , Volstad signed with the of South Korea's in late December 2013 to pitch in the 2014 season. The Bears, a perennial contender, viewed the 6-foot-8 right-hander as a key addition to their starting rotation alongside established ace . Volstad debuted early in the season, making 17 starts and logging 87 innings pitched. Volstad posted a 5–7 record with a 6.21 , allowing 116 hits, 8 home runs, 37 walks, and just 32 . His low strikeout total and elevated walk rate highlighted command issues amid the KBO's hitter-friendly environment, where league-wide ERAs frequently topped 5.00 due to aggressive offenses and park factors favoring run production. Despite these struggles, he achieved milestones such as his only of the season and notable wins, including a 5–4 victory over the on May 5 and a 7–3 decision against the on May 11. Volstad later reflected that adapting to the league's pressures proved difficult, as he often grew frustrated and failed to manage adversity effectively on the mound. The Bears designated Volstad for assignment in mid-July 2014 after losing six of his final eight starts, prompting his later that month and concluding his lone season in Korea. He then returned to the to pursue further opportunities in .

Los Angeles Angels

Following his release from the of the in July , Volstad signed a minor league contract with the on July 18, . He was immediately assigned to the Angels' Triple-A affiliate, the of the . In his brief time with the Bees, Volstad worked primarily as a , making seven starts over the remainder of the season. He compiled a 2–1 record with a 6.18 , allowing 48 hits and seven home runs while striking out 24 batters in 39⅓ innings pitched. Volstad also issued 12 walks during this stretch, contributing to a 1.53 . Volstad did not receive a call-up to the major league roster during his tenure with the Angels organization. He became a at the conclusion of the 2014 season.

Pittsburgh Pirates

On January 28, 2015, following his release from the Los Angeles Angels organization, Chris Volstad signed a contract with the , which included an invitation to . Volstad spent the majority of the 2015 season with the Pirates' Triple-A affiliate, the of the , where he made 28 starts and posted an 11–7 record with a 3.18 over 155⅔ , allowing 153 and 55 earned runs while 97 batters. His performance provided depth to the Indians' rotation, highlighted by consistent outings that helped stabilize the pitching staff amid injuries to other prospects. On June 24, 2015, selected Volstad's contract from , adding him to their major league roster to bolster the amid injuries, such as first baseman Corey Hart's placement on the disabled list. In his only major league appearance of the season, Volstad pitched two scoreless innings of relief against the Detroit Tigers, surrendering two hits but no walks or runs. He was four days later on June 28 to make room for other roster moves, including the promotion of outfielder Gorkys Hernández and infielder Steve Lombardozzi. Volstad cleared waivers and was outrighted to on July 2, 2015, where he continued pitching through the end of the Triple-A season without further major league opportunities that year. He elected free agency on October 5, 2015, concluding his brief tenure with the Pirates organization.

On March 17, 2016, Volstad signed a minor league contract with the . He spent the 2016 season with the Triple-A , posting an 8-11 record with a 4.79 over 31 appearances (all starts), logging 176.2 innings and striking out 84 batters. Volstad elected free agency after the 2016 season but re-signed with the White Sox on a minor league deal on December 16, 2016. He spent most of the 2017 season with Charlotte, where he posted a 3-10 record with a 5.57 over 27 appearances (18 starts), logging 118 and striking out 71 batters. Volstad earned a late-season call-up to the majors on , making six relief appearances for the White Sox and going 1-2 with a 4.66 in 19.1 . Volstad re-signed with the White Sox on a minor league deal on January 22, 2018. He began the year with Charlotte, where in his lone start before promotion he allowed five earned runs over 4.2 innings. The White Sox purchased his contract from Triple-A on April 12, and Volstad transitioned primarily to a relief role, appearing in 33 games (one start) with a 1-5 record and 6.27 ERA across 47.1 innings, recording 29 strikeouts while primarily serving as a and spot starter. On July 27, the White Sox designated him for assignment to make room for other roster moves, and he was released on July 31. Following his release, Volstad became a and reflected on his time with the White Sox as a rewarding chapter amid a challenging free-agent market, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to contribute in multiple roles during his final MLB seasons. His tenure with the team concluded his major league career, as he did not return to the majors after .

Post-MLB activities

Following his release from the organization in July 2018, Volstad did not appear in any affiliated games from 2019 through 2025. In February 2020, he signed a minor league contract with the , but the season was canceled due to the , resulting in no games played before his release in early April. During this period, Volstad focused on non-professional pursuits, including his role as co-owner of Civil Society Brewing Company in , which he helped establish with family and friends in 2015 as a venture to prepare for life after . As of November 2025, Volstad has not engaged in any further activities and is considered retired from the sport, continuing to operate his .

Pitching style

Pitch repertoire

Chris Volstad's pitch repertoire centered on a , , and , with frequent use of a sinker and occasional sliders. His typically sat in the 88-92 mph range, averaging 91.7 mph during his 2009 season with the Marlins, where it generated some natural sinking action but was prone to fly balls and home runs when elevated. The sinker, thrown at similar velocities around 91-92 mph, became a staple later in his career, comprising a significant portion of his pitches—such as over 50% in select 2018 appearances—and induced ground balls despite below-average whiff rates compared to other right-handed pitchers. Volstad's ranged from 74-82 mph, evolving to harder velocities like 82 mph by 2018, and was used frequently as a secondary pitch for strikeouts and deception, often with more vertical break than average. His , clocked at 80-84 mph, featured slight armside fade and saw increased usage in later seasons, particularly after 2013, where it proved effective for generating ground balls with low whiff rates but solid run values in inducing weak contact. Sliders and cutters were rare offerings, limited to under 5% usage in tracked seasons, with the cutter at 87 mph showing high whiff potential in small samples during 2018. Throughout his MLB tenure, Volstad's pitch mix emphasized fastball variants at approximately 50% usage, curves around 30%, and changeups 15-20%, shifting toward more sinkers and changeups post-2010 to combat rising home run rates on his four-seamer, which had a run value impacted by 29 home runs allowed in 2009 alone. In the minors and his 2014 stint with the Doosan Bears in the KBO, he refined this arsenal by increasing his reliance on the changeup for better command against contact-heavy lineups, maintaining overall velocities while prioritizing groundball induction over swing-and-miss.

Mechanics and approach

Chris Volstad, standing at 6 feet 8 inches tall, possessed a projectable frame that contributed to a downward plane on his pitches, allowing him to generate significant angle from his elevated release point. His delivery featured a three-quarters arm slot, which provided deception but occasionally led to inconsistencies due to his height, resulting in balance challenges that manifested in elevated walk rates, particularly later in his career when he issued approximately 3.0 walks per nine innings from onward. These mechanical hurdles were noted in evaluations of his command, where his tall stature sometimes disrupted repeatability, though his were generally rated as reasonably consistent for a of his size. Early in his career, Volstad adopted an aggressive approach as a strike-thrower, attacking hitters with his to induce ground balls and limit deep counts, which helped him post a 2.88 in 14 starts during his debut season. As performance waned, he became more selective, incorporating greater use of off-speed pitches to vary sequencing, though this shift coincided with increased walks as he aimed to avoid the heart of the zone against power hitters. His reliance on height for angle remained a core strength, enabling a sinker-heavy strategy that produced career ground-ball rates above 50 percent. Mechanics-related injuries impacted Volstad's trajectory, including a shoulder sprain in August that sidelined him briefly and contributed to command issues upon return, exacerbating his 4.89 that year. Over his career, he adapted by refining his delivery for better repeatability. These adjustments mirrored those of similar tall right-handers like , who also battled control through mechanical tweaks to leverage their frames effectively.

References

  1. https://www.mlb.com/player/chris-volstad-458690
  2. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/volstch01.shtml
  3. https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/local/2015/11/12/jupiter-s-first-brewery-about/6783195007/
  4. https://www.mlb.com/cut4/white-sox-chris-volstad-opens-his-second-brewery-c271988642
  5. https://www.fishstripes.com/2007/2/13/65848/1478
  6. https://www.mlb.com/news/chris-volstad-in-my-words-c274519402
  7. https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Chris_Volstad
  8. https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2005/06/17/six-players-named-1st-team-all-state/
  9. https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/sports/high-school/baseball/2025/06/01/baseball-player-of-the-year-winners-palm-beach-county-voting-poll/82673053007/
  10. https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2005/06/07/volstad-tries-to-not-get-his-hopes-up-too-high/
  11. https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2005-final-mlb-draft-projection/
  12. http://baseballanalysts.com/archives/2005/06/live_blogging_t.php
  13. https://www.ocala.com/story/news/2005/06/17/marlins-first-round-picks-sign-contracts/31337135007/
  14. https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/player/_/id/5248/chris-volstad
  15. https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/player/101629/
  16. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=volsta001chr
  17. https://www.minorleagueball.com/2009/4/1/817184/not-a-rookie-chris-volstad
  18. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=volstch01&t=p&year=2008
  19. https://www.mlb.com/news/cubs-acquire-volstad-from-miami-for-zambrano/c-26265532
  20. https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs/2012/01/05/the-final-details-on-the-carlos-zambrano-trade-and-a-settlement-of-his-grievance/
  21. https://www.baseball-almanac.com/teamstats/pitching.php?y=2012&t=CHN
  22. https://www.milb.com/player/chris-volstad-458690
  23. https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/chris-volstad-nearing-dubious-record/
  24. https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/8556319/chris-volstad-claimed-waivers-kansas-city-royals
  25. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/01/rockies-sign-chris-volstad-1.html
  26. https://www.mlb.com/news/rockies-recall-lhp-josh-outman-option-rhp-chris-volstad/c-45234378
  27. https://www.purplerow.com/2013/10/18/4852410/2013-colorado-rockies-player-reviews-chris-volstad
  28. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/06/rockies-waive-volstad-promote-oswalt.html
  29. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/12/angels-to-release-chris-volstad-to-pursue-korean-offer.html
  30. https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2014/07/15/Baseball/Surprisingly-bad-Bears-and-Twins-looking-to-regroup/2992059.html
  31. https://sports.yahoo.com/a-kbo-primer-what-you-need-to-know-to-enjoy-the-return-of-baseball-in-south-korea-171739497.html
  32. https://mykbostats.com/games/305
  33. https://mykbostats.com/games/330-Samsung-vs-Doosan-20140511
  34. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/07/minor-moves-torrealba-volstad-berg-enright-gimenez-wells-fellhauer.html
  35. https://www.baseballprospectus.com/player/46849/
  36. https://www.mlb.com/news/pirates-select-contract-of-pitcher-chris-volstad/c-132646856
  37. https://www.mlb.com/news/corey-hart-to-dl-pirates-call-chris-volstad/c-132663706
  38. https://www.espn.com/mlb/team/transactions/_/name/pit/season/2015
  39. https://www.baseballprospectus.com/player/46849/chris-volstad/
  40. https://www.mlb.com/news/chris-volstad-added-to-white-sox-roster-c271929544
  41. https://www.chicagotribune.com/2018/02/18/in-slow-free-agent-market-chris-volstad-grateful-for-white-sox-call/
  42. https://www.mlb.com/press-release/white-sox-purchase-contract-of-chris-volstad-from-triple-a-charlotte-t-271928734
  43. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/07/white-sox-designate-chris-volstad-for-assignment.html
  44. https://marlinmaniac.com/2009/12/22/revisiting-volstad-with-new-pitch-fx-tools/
  45. https://www.brooksbaseball.net/landing.php?player=458690
  46. https://www.perfectgame.org/players/playerprofile.aspx?ID=7110
  47. https://marlinmaniac.com/2010/02/04/looking-into-the-marlins-groundball-pitchers-chris-volstad/
  48. https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/sports/mlb/2011/08/13/marlins-right-hander-chris-volstad/7441443007/
  49. https://www.denverpost.com/2013/03/10/rockies-starting-rotation-still-a-huge-question/
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