Scouting grades 20–80
50Fastball
60Curveball
55Changeup
55Control
You won't find a pitcher in the 2027 class with a better track-record of performance then Dylan Volantis. He's kept hitters at a sub-.200 batting average and maintained a strikeout rate north of 34% throughout his first two years at Austin, even after transitioning from a closer to a Friday night role.
Volantis has a long, lanky look about him on the mound with a strong lower-half and considerable projection remaining. There's still plenty left in the tank. Volantis is one of the more funky, intruiging arms in the 2027 class in that his release traits are unlike any other in the country. It's a 6.8 foot release height, and outlandishly tall release point with considerable down-hill plane. Some of the angles he's able to create make it incredibly difficult for hitters to pick up and put a good swing on the baseball. Despite not being the best extender down the mound even with his length, Volantis is able to create plenty of deception that makes him hard to hit.
Volantis sits in the low-90s and will touch 94 mph when he's feeling good. It's a heater with considerable sink and tail, one with an extremely steep vertical approach angle that makes it hard to square up. Volantis's best pitch - and the one he's most famous for - is his big low-80s curveball. It's a pitch that has missed bats at an unbelievable clip so far throughout his 2 years in college. Volantis spins it at an above-average rate with considerable depth despite it's velocity. It's every bit of a plus breaking ball. Volantis will also mix in a tight mid-80s bullet slider that bridges the rest of his arsenal nicely. A changeup he kills spin on well will work it's way into his mix as well, though he can at times vary his release height in order to create the shape.
Volantis pounds the strike zone and gets a ton of chase with his arsenal. Few question his ability to start at the next level, what remains to be seen is how much really remains with Volantis. Whether or not a team believes he can reach middle of the rotation upside will decide how early he goes in July of 2027.
