![Headshot of Colby Shelton](https://www.baseballamerica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/701333-85497-20289-draft-headshot.jpg)
![Headshot of Colby Shelton](https://www.baseballamerica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/701333-85497-20289-draft-headshot.jpg)
- Full name Colby James Shelton
- Born 12/06/2002 in Charlotte, NC
- Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 185 / Bats: L / Throws: R
- School Bloomingdale
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Drafted in the 20th round (590th overall) by the Washington Nationals in 2024.
View Draft Report
School: Florida
Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.6
BA Grade: 45/High
Tools: Hit: 40. Power: 55. Run: 45. Field: 45. Arm: 55.
Shelton had a standout freshman season with Alabama in 2023, when he led the club with 25 home runs en route to a second-team All-America selection. After the season, Shelton transferred to Florida, where he continued to show a powerful lefthanded bat. His production took a slight step backward in 2024, when he hit .256/.381/.573 with 20 home runs in 61 games. A 6-foot, 200-pound lefthanded hitter, Shelton is strong with all-fields power that comes with plenty of swing-and-miss. He sets up with a slightly crouched stance that includes a high handset and small leg lift, though he can be a bit rigid and stiff at times. His career strikeout rate sits in the 24-25% range, and he has contact questions versus all pitch types and an aggressive approach that leads to too many swings out of the zone. Because of Shelton’s back-to-back 20-homer seasons in the Southeastern Conference, some scouts think he will hit for enough impact to profile as a bat-first infielder. A shortstop now, Shelton profiles better at either third base or second base thanks to just OK actions and quickness. He can throw from multiple angles nicely and has enough arm strength for the left side of the infield. He is a fringe-average runner. He fits anywhere from round two to four.
Top Rankings
Draft Prospects
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School: Florida Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.6
Shelton was a second team All-American in 2023 after leading Alabama with 25 home runs and slashing .299/.418/.725 with a 24.6% strikeout rate and 13.3% walk rate. A 6-foot, 200-pound infielder, Shelton hits the ball hard, though most of his power went to the pull side and he also swings and misses at a solid clip vs. all pitch types, including a 40% miss rate on fastballs thrown 92 mph or harder. Shelton’s power is his calling card, but after playing third base with Alabama, he is getting a chance to play shortstop in 2024 with Florida. If he shows a chance to defend a middle infield position, his lefthanded power will only look more appealing to big league clubs.