Colton Welker Stats & Scouting Report

AB	37
AVG	.189
OBP	.25
SLG	.216
HR	0

Full name Colton Welker
Born 10/09/1997 in Coral Springs, FL
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 235 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Marjory Stoneman Douglas
Debut 09/08/2021
Drafted in the 4th round (110th overall) by the Colorado Rockies in 2016 (signed for $855,000).

View Draft Report

Welker led Douglas High capture its first state championship in program history this spring, even after losing ace Jesus Luzardo to Tommy John surgery. Welker hit .500 this spring, and sent the Eagles to the state final four with a game-winning home run. A righthanded hitter, Welker has an easy swing that mostly produces line drives now, but should enable him to hit for average power as he physically matures. Listed at 6-foot-1, 209 pounds, Welker is a physical infielder. He will likely move off shortstop as a professional, as he is a below-average runner and already big for the position. He has the hands, athleticism and strong arm to profile well at third base, however. Like Luzardo, Welker is committed to Miami.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Track Record: Welker dominated his first three seasons after the Rockies selected him in the fourth round in 2016. He hit .329 for Rookie-level Grand Junction in his pro debut, .350 for Low-A Asheville in 2017 and .333 to win the California League batting title for High-A Lancaster in 2018. Welker hasn’t been able to build on that success since. A shoulder injury limited him to 98 games in 2019 and, after spending 2020 at the alternate site and getting added to the 40-man roster, he was suspended 80 games for using the performance-enhancing substance DHCMT. He debuted for the Rockies on Sept. 8 and hit .189 in 37 at-bats.

Scouting Report: Welker has possibly the best pure bat-to-ball skills in the organization, but his recent offensive struggles have seeded doubts. At his best, he has a line-drive, on-base approach with a flat swing conducive to contact. He’s a cerebral hitter, but he needs to work on staying within his approach and not trying to do too much. He is prone to selling out for power and losing his swing mechanics. Welker has good hands and a strong arm, but he is a slow runner with limited mobility in the field who fits better at first base than third base. He still needs to get better at scooping low throws out of the dirt.

The Future: Welker will be a part of the Rockies’ plans in 2022. He has time to grow as a backup at third base behind Ryan McMahon and first base behind C.J. Cron.
Hitting: 55. Power: 45. Running: 40. Fielding: 45. Arm: 55.

TRACK RECORD: Welker’s pro career got off to a flying start, highlighted by winning the California League batting title with a .333 average in 2018. He started strong at Double-A in 2019, hitting .308 with power through 56 games, before fading badly down the stretch and suffering a shoulder injury that cut his season short. The Rockies brought Welker to the alternate training site in 2020 and added him to the 40-man roster after the season.

SCOUTING REPORT: Welker rose to Double-A at a young age thanks to above-average hitting ability and solid plate discipline, and those traits will be his ticket to the majors. His downturn late in 2019 came when he got outside of himself, tried to do too much and his swing got out of sync. Average power could come naturally if he doesn’t try to force it. Welker has a big body and his feet slow down when he carries too much weight, which hurts him at third base. His hands and above-average arm work at the hot corner, but his size and resulting lack of mobility might force him to first base, a position he played with greater regularity at Double-A in 2019.

THE FUTURE: Welker can flat-out hit when he stays within himself. His defensive value is likely to be limited, so he’ll have to hit his way to the big leagues.
TRACK RECORD: Welker hit .337 over his first three pro seasons and won the California League batting title in 2018. He moved up to Double-A Hartford in 2019 and met his stiffest challenge yet. He hit .308 through his first 50 games and was recognized by Eastern League managers as the circuit's best batting prospect. He hit just .190 the rest of the way in a season interrupted by a shoulder subluxation. He then hit .229 in the Arizona Fall League.

SCOUTING REPORT: Welker's natural feel to hit has been his calling card throughout his career. Usually, his level swing path keeps his barrel in the zone for a long time, and he has the strike-zone discipline to be an on-base threat. Welker began chasing power and trying to loft the ball in 2019, and the result was an uppercut swing that went in and out of the zone quickly and dramatically reduced his ability to make contact. He has the natural skills to be an above-average hitter with 15-20 home runs, but only if he rediscovers his best swing. Welker has good hands and an above-average arm at third base, but his thickening body and lack of speed have some projecting him to first base.

THE FUTURE: The Rockies plan to keep developing Welker at both corners. He has the committed approach that should allow him to learn from the challenges of 2019.
Track Record: In his third pro season, Welker continued to establish the fact he has an impact bat. An injury kept him from qualifying for a batting title in the South Atlantic League in 2017. He was healthy throughout the 2018 season and claimed the batting championship in the high Class A California League. He has hit a composite .335 in his professional career.

Scouting Report: Welker has natural leverage to hit for above-average power in his swing. As he fills out and gets stronger there is the expectation he will develop middle-of-the-lineup power, a lot like Nolan Arenado, who never hit more than 18 home runs in a minor league season. He has that hitting instinct, using the entire field. As part of the Rockies' versatility push, he put in some time at first base in the second half of 2018 at Lancaster. Third base, though, is his future. He has the reactions, soft hands and arm strength to handle both corners with an accurate arm.

The Future: Welker should be big league ready some time in 2020. The expectation is he will settle in quickly at Double-A and be moved up to Albuquerque at some point in 2019, which could facilitate his rise to the big leagues. He remains the focus of the Rockies' future at third base.
Welker led Douglas High in Parkland, Fla., to its first state championship in 2016 and a No. 1 ranking in BA's final national high school poll. The Rockies drafted him in the fourth round and signed him for $855,000. Welker impressed immediately and was en route to the South Atlantic League batting title in his first full season, but an abdominal strain shelved him for two months and cost him the necessary at-bats. Welker's bat is his best asset. He has impressive knowledge of the strike zone, particularly for a young power hitter, and makes full use of the entire field. His swing has some length to it and a bit of a hitch, but he makes up for it with advanced feel to hit, above-average power potential and limited swing-and-miss. A high school shortstop, Welker moved to third base as a pro and has shown above-average potential there. He has a good first step, is quick on his feet and possesses a plus, accurate arm, although his below-average speed and fringy athleticism cuts into his range. Nolan Arenado is a free agent after 2019, and Welker is in line to be Arenado's eventual replacement if the Rockies are unable to resign him. For now, Welker will head to high Class A Lancaster.
Welker led Douglas High in Parkland, Fla.-- Anthony Rizzo's alma mater--to the school's first state championship and No. 1 spot in the Baseball America prep rankings in 2016. A shortstop in high school, he has moved to third base. He is built along the lines of Rockies current third baseman Nolan Arenado and even looks a little like him in the face. Wwlker is not quite as big as the Rockies all-star, but he has similar defensive instincts to the four-time Gold Glove winner. He will need time to adjust to third but has the range, hands and arm strength to be an asset at the hot corner. He debuted at Rookie-level Grand Junction in 2016 and hit .329/.366/.490, even as he was 18 the entire campaign. Welker has the innate ability to recognize pitches and a very good grasp of the strike zone, and his hands work, with good present strength. He uses the entire field, and as he fills out and gets stronger he should grow into plus power. He and Tyler Nevin should compete for playing time at low Class A Asheville, though one also could wind up at short-season Boise.

Draft Prospects

Welker led Douglas High capture its first state championship in program history this spring, even after losing ace Jesus Luzardo to Tommy John surgery. Welker hit .500 this spring, and sent the Eagles to the state final four with a game-winning home run. A righthanded hitter, Welker has an easy swing that mostly produces line drives now, but should enable him to hit for average power as he physically matures. Listed at 6-foot-1, 209 pounds, Welker is a physical infielder. He will likely move off shortstop as a professional, as he is a below-average runner and already big for the position. He has the hands, athleticism and strong arm to profile well at third base, however. Like Luzardo, Welker is committed to Miami.

Minor League Top Prospects

Welker established himself early as one of the league’s best hitters and kept getting better. He displayed excellent hand-eye coordination, put himself in good counts with an advanced approach and ably used the whole field, ultimately winning the league batting title (.333) and delivering hit streaks of 13, 15 and 20 games. “He’s very aware of his strike zone and able to handle a very good fastball,” Lake Elsinore manager Edwin Rodriguez said. “At the same time, he made adjustments with offspeed pitches. He’s only 20. When you see that in a hitter, when he’s able to handle the hard fastball in and still drive to the opposite field those offspeed pitches, it’s a very good sign, especially at his age.” Defensively Welker made only six errors all year at third base with reliable hands and an accurate, above-average arm, although his lateral range and agility need a lot of improvement. Welker’s power is his main question mark. His flat swing path yielded just four home runs and a .404 slugging outside of Lancaster. Optimists believe Welker’s pure hitting ability will allow him to run into more home runs as he gets older and stronger, but others are less bullish.
Welker's slash line was helped a good bit by the Tourists' hitter-friendly home park where he hit .400/.449/.584. But scouts were impressed by Welker's approach, his bat control, timing and his knowledge of the strike zone. And he did hit .302/.355/.419 on the road, so he wasn't just a McCormick Field creation. Welker's power should develop as he matures, as he does have gap power now. But he's a hit-first line-drive third baseman.Defensively Welker needs to improve his footwork but his hands work well and he has an above-average accurate arm.
Welker is the latest Grand Junction third baseman to make the list, joining recent examples such as Ryan McMahon, Kevin Padlo and Tyler Nevin. He led Douglas High to a national No. 1 ranking and state title in the spring, then hit well in his pro debut, showing an easy swing and the ability to make contact. With his wide-open stance, Welker doesn't create much rhythm or load with his hands, but his strength and bat speed allow him to drive balls, and his flaws are correctable. He's more of a line-drive hitter now but should increase his power with added strength and better hittability. He's a below-average runner. Welker picks the ball with effortless movements at third base and is good at bare-handing balls down the line. While he has an accurate, average arm, he needs to better adjust his slot when going to his left. With more experience and some tweaks, he could become a true plus defender.

Best Tools List

Rated Best Infield Arm in the Colorado Rockies in 2019
Rated Best Hitter for Average in the Colorado Rockies in 2019

Scouting Reports

Track Record: Welker dominated his first three seasons after the Rockies selected him in the fourth round in 2016. He hit .329 for Rookie-level Grand Junction in his pro debut, .350 for Low-A Asheville in 2017 and .333 to win the California League batting title for High-A Lancaster in 2018. Welker hasn’t been able to build on that success since. A shoulder injury limited him to 98 games in 2019 and, after spending 2020 at the alternate site and getting added to the 40-man roster, he was suspended 80 games for using the performance-enhancing substance DHCMT. He debuted for the Rockies on Sept. 8 and hit .189 in 37 at-bats.

Scouting Report: Welker has possibly the best pure bat-to-ball skills in the organization, but his recent offensive struggles have seeded doubts. At his best, he has a line-drive, on-base approach with a flat swing conducive to contact. He’s a cerebral hitter, but he needs to work on staying within his approach and not trying to do too much. He is prone to selling out for power and losing his swing mechanics. Welker has good hands and a strong arm, but he is a slow runner with limited mobility in the field who fits better at first base than third base. He still needs to get better at scooping low throws out of the dirt.

The Future: Welker will be a part of the Rockies’ plans in 2022. He has time to grow as a backup at third base behind Ryan McMahon and first base behind C.J. Cron.
Hitting: 55. Power: 45. Running: 40. Fielding: 45. Arm: 55.

TRACK RECORD: Welker's pro career got off to a flying start, highlighted by winning the California League batting title with a .333 average in 2018. He started strong at Double-A in 2019, hitting .308 with power through 56 games, before fading badly down the stretch and suffering a shoulder injury that cut his season short. The Rockies brought Welker to the alternate training site in 2020 and added him to the 40-man roster after the season.

SCOUTING REPORT: Welker rose to Double-A at a young age thanks to above-average hitting ability and solid plate discipline, and those traits will be his ticket to the majors. His downturn late in 2019 came when he got outside of himself, tried to do too much and his swing got out of sync. Average power could come naturally if he doesn't try to force it. Welker has a big body and his feet slow down when he carries too much weight, which hurts him at third base. His hands and above-average arm work at the hot corner, but his size and resulting lack of mobility might force him to first base, a position he played with greater regularity at Double-A in 2019.

THE FUTURE: Welker can flat-out hit when he stays within himself. His defensive value is likely to be limited, so he'll have to hit his way to the big leagues.
Hitting: 55. Power: 45. Running: 40. Fielding: 45. Arm: 55.

TRACK RECORD: Welker’s pro career got off to a flying start, highlighted by winning the California League batting title with a .333 average in 2018. He started strong at Double-A in 2019, hitting .308 with power through 56 games, before fading badly down the stretch and suffering a shoulder injury that cut his season short. The Rockies brought Welker to the alternate training site in 2020 and added him to the 40-man roster after the season.

SCOUTING REPORT: Welker rose to Double-A at a young age thanks to above-average hitting ability and solid plate discipline, and those traits will be his ticket to the majors. His downturn late in 2019 came when he got outside of himself, tried to do too much and his swing got out of sync. Average power could come naturally if he doesn’t try to force it. Welker has a big body and his feet slow down when he carries too much weight, which hurts him at third base. His hands and above-average arm work at the hot corner, but his size and resulting lack of mobility might force him to first base, a position he played with greater regularity at Double-A in 2019.

THE FUTURE: Welker can flat-out hit when he stays within himself. His defensive value is likely to be limited, so he’ll have to hit his way to the big leagues.
Hitting: 55. Power: 45. Running: 40. Fielding: 45. Arm: 55.

TRACK RECORD: Welker’s pro career got off to a flying start, highlighted by winning the California League batting title with a .333 average in 2018. He started strong at Double-A in 2019, hitting .308 with power through 56 games, before fading badly down the stretch and suffering a shoulder injury that cut his season short. The Rockies brought Welker to the alternate training site in 2020 and added him to the 40-man roster after the season.

SCOUTING REPORT: Welker rose to Double-A at a young age thanks to above-average hitting ability and solid plate discipline, and those traits will be his ticket to the majors. His downturn late in 2019 came when he got outside of himself, tried to do too much and his swing got out of sync. Average power could come naturally if he doesn’t try to force it. Welker has a big body and his feet slow down when he carries too much weight, which hurts him at third base. His hands and above-average arm work at the hot corner, but his size and resulting lack of mobility might force him to first base, a position he played with greater regularity at Double-A in 2019.

THE FUTURE: Welker can flat-out hit when he stays within himself. His defensive value is likely to be limited, so he’ll have to hit his way to the big leagues.
TRACK RECORD: Welker hit .337 over his first three pro seasons and won the California League batting title in 2018. He moved up to Double-A Hartford in 2019 and met his stiffest challenge yet. He hit .308 through his first 50 games and was recognized by Eastern League managers as the circuit’s best batting prospect. He hit just .190 the rest of the way in a season interrupted by a shoulder subluxation. He then hit .229 in the Arizona Fall League.

SCOUTING REPORT: Welker’s natural feel to hit has been his calling card throughout his career. Usually, his level swing path keeps his barrel in the zone for a long time, and he has the strike-zone discipline to be an on-base threat. Welker began chasing power and trying to loft the ball in 2019, and the result was an uppercut swing that went in and out of the zone quickly and dramatically reduced his ability to make contact. He has the natural skills to be an above-average hitter with 15-20 home runs, but only if he rediscovers his best swing. Welker has good hands and an above-average arm at third base, but his thickening body and lack of speed have some projecting him to first base.

THE FUTURE: The Rockies plan to keep developing Welker at both corners. He has the committed approach that should allow him to learn from the challenges of 2019.
TRACK RECORD: Welker hit .337 over his first three pro seasons and won the California League batting title in 2018. He moved up to Double-A Hartford in 2019 and met his stiffest challenge yet. He hit .308 through his first 50 games and was recognized by Eastern League managers as the circuit's best batting prospect. He hit just .190 the rest of the way in a season interrupted by a shoulder subluxation. He then hit .229 in the Arizona Fall League.

SCOUTING REPORT: Welker's natural feel to hit has been his calling card throughout his career. Usually, his level swing path keeps his barrel in the zone for a long time, and he has the strike-zone discipline to be an on-base threat. Welker began chasing power and trying to loft the ball in 2019, and the result was an uppercut swing that went in and out of the zone quickly and dramatically reduced his ability to make contact. He has the natural skills to be an above-average hitter with 15-20 home runs, but only if he rediscovers his best swing. Welker has good hands and an above-average arm at third base, but his thickening body and lack of speed have some projecting him to first base.

THE FUTURE: The Rockies plan to keep developing Welker at both corners. He has the committed approach that should allow him to learn from the challenges of 2019.
Welker’s unorthodox swing has cut into his power (three home runs, .388 SLG outside of Lancaster) but he continues to show solid feel to hit and strike-zone awareness. He is using the whole field, has a mature approach and is impressing with his hand-eye coordination. Welker’s defense at third base has been widely praised—particularly his instincts, arm and reactions off the bat—but his thick lower half raises concerns about his long-term mobility.
Track Record: Welker led Stoneman Douglas High to its first Florida state championship in 2016 and a No. 1 ranking in BA's final national poll. The Rockies drafted him in the fourth round and signed him for $855,000. Welker impressed immediately and was en route to the South Atlantic League batting title in his first full season, but an abdominal strain shelved him for two months and cost him the necessary at-bats. Scouting Report: Welker's bat is his best asset. He has impressive knowledge of the strike zone, particularly for a young power hitter, and makes full use of the entire field. His swing has some length to it and a bit of a hitch, but he makes up for it with advanced feel to hit, above-average power potential and limited swing-and-miss. A high school shortstop, Welker moved to third base as a pro and has shown above-average potential there. He has a good first step, is quick on his feet and possesses a plus, accurate arm, although his below-average speed and fringy athleticism cuts into his range. The Future: Nolan Arenado is a free agent after 2019, and Welker is in line to be Arenado's eventual replacement if the Rockies are unable to resign him. For now, Welker will head to high Class A Lancaster.