Ronnie Welty
| AB | 1142 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .269 |
| OBP | .354 |
| SLG | .451 |
| HR | 44 |
- Full name Ronald Alan Welty
- Born 01/19/1988 in Seattle, WA
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Chandler-Gilbert CC
-
Drafted in the 20th round (596th overall) by the Baltimore Orioles in 2008.
View Draft Report
Welty, at 6-foot-5, 190 pounds, looks the part and hit well this spring, challenging McDonald for league honors by hitting .459. He also has above-average arm strength and runs at least average if not a tick above. One league coach compared him to Hunter Pence for his ability to produce despite a gangly frame and less-than-ideal swing mechanics, and scouts are divided on him, with some wanting to see him perform against four-year college pitchers before they bite.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
-
Welty has made the postseason league all-star teams in each of his three seasons, but it was only when he added power in 2010 that more scouts started to take notice. Welty has added 30 pounds to his gangly frame since high school in Arizona and tapped into his power potential. He's aggressive and confident at the plate and can handle just about any fastball. He has good leverage in his swing and uses the middle of the field. He generates far too many swings and misses, however, particularly against breaking balls and pitches on the outer half, and he has a tendency to expand his strike zone. Welty has improved as a right fielder and rates as a solid-average defender with enough arm for the position. He's a slightly below-average runner. Before 2010 Welty looked like a tweener outfielder, but if his power continues to grow he could be more. The key will be maintaining his power without striking out so much, which will be a big challenge against Double-A pitching this year.
