After 93 big-league starts, 2005 first-round pick Chris Volstad is still struggling to establish himself. He was optioned to Triple-A on Saturday following an outing Friday in which he allowed four runs -- three earned -- in five innings against the Mets.
It’s the third straight season in which Volstad has received a midseason demotion. In 2009, he was sent down on Aug. 29. Last year, the move came on July 7. This year, his ERA actually peaked at 6.07 on June 14, but the Marlins stuck with him then and he bounced back to go 2-0 with a 1.31 ERA in his final three starts of June. July, unfortunately, was a different story, as he pitched six innings in just one of his four outings. He heads back to Triple-A with a 5-8 record and a 5.58 ERA.
The Marlins have long had high hopes for Volstad, but he’s been one of the game’s worst regular starters since arriving in July 2008. Only four pitchers have started at least 90 games the last four seasons and posted a worse ERA+:
1. Fausto Carmona - 80
2. Kevin Correia - 82
3. Zach Duke - 85
4. Livan Hernandez - 85
5. Volstad - 89
6. Joe Blanton - 91
7. Kyle Lohse - 91
8. Aaron Harang - 92
9. Carl Pavano - 94
10. Barry Zito - 95
Volstad is just 24, and it’s doubtful the Marlins are giving up on him. Still, he’s now out of options, so they won’t be able to go back to this well again next year. The Marlins will likely turn to Brad Hand as Volstad’s replacement in the rotation for now.
