​Monache’s Benicio Mendoza stood at the plate during the 65th annual Exeter Lions high school all-star baseball game at Visalia Rawhide’s Valley Strong Ball Park on Saturday, June 20, 2026. The event, captured by Gary Kazanjian for the Visalia Times-Delta, showcased a slate of top East and West players, highlighting Mendoza’s talent as part of the Exeter-area showcase.
Joey Volchko’s professional baseball journey officially began Saturday when the former Redwood High School standout was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the third round, 77th overall, of the 2026 MLB Draft. The White Sox, who held the No. 1 overall pick, opened the draft by selecting UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky and later added Volchko to their ranks. Volchko’s signing bonus value was approximately $1.09 million. This selection places Volchko among the highest-drafted players in Redwood High School history and continues the school’s notable tradition of producing professional talent. Earlier Redwood alums include Hunter Bryan, taken by the Texas Rangers with the 925th overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft, and Sam Bower, selected by the San Francisco Giants in the 12th round (356th overall) in 2022 from Saint Mary’s College.
Volchko entered the draft as the No. 68 overall prospect, according to MLB.com, following a breakout junior season at Georgia that vaulted him into early-round consideration. The 6-foot-4 right-hander originally emerged as one of the nation’s premier high school prospects at Redwood in 2023. Armed with a fastball that reached 96 mph, Volchko dominated that senior year, posting a 0.59 ERA with 135 strikeouts over 59 innings. He also starred at the plate, batting .442 with eight home runs, eight doubles, and 38 RBIs, helping lead Redwood to the CIF-Central Section Division 1 semifinals.
His two-way prowess earned him Baseball America First Team All-American honors, Cal-Hi Sports First Team All-State recognition, and East Yosemite League MVP honors. Redwood’s Joey Volchko later appeared in period images from Exeter’s All-Star games, where he watched teammates compete in a high-profile East vs. West showdown in Exeter, California, on June 17, 2023.
Rather than turning pro straight from high school, Volchko honored his commitment to Stanford, where he spent two seasons before transferring to Georgia ahead of the 2026 campaign. The transfer proved pivotal. Volchko emerged as the ace of one of Georgia’s most successful teams in history, helping the Bulldogs finish 53-14, capture both the SEC regular-season and tournament championships, and advance to the College World Series, where they finished tied for third nationally. He finished the season with an 11-2 record, a 3.68 ERA, and 119 strikeouts over 95 ⅓ innings in 18 starts. His 11 victories tied for the SEC lead, and his 18 starts ranked among the conference’s top performers. He also shined on college baseball’s biggest stage, contributing to Georgia’s deep run in the post-season.