Colton Welker Pays Off Early
DENVER—The Rockies went $300,000 above slot this year to sign 19-year-old third baseman Colton Welker, and the investment has already netted dividends.
Welker committed to Miami out of Douglas High in Parkland, Fla., but signed for $855,000 after the Rockies drafted him in the fourth round. At Rookie-level Grand Junction he hit .329/.366/.490 in 51 games with five homers and 36 RBIs.
“He has a developed approach for a high school kid,” Grand Junction development supervisor Tony Diaz said. “He stays right-center (field) as good as anybody that I’ve seen at that age.”
Watching Welker, Diaz recalled Rockies all-star Nolan Arenado, whom he managed in the Pioneer League in 2009.
“There’s a lot of similarities between him and Nolan at the same age,” Diaz said, “such as the approach and the ability to make contact and the competitive nature at that age and the rising to the occasion.”
In 227 plate appearances, Welker drew just 13 walks but struck out a mere 28 times. He hit .417 with runners in scoring position.
“He’s got an advanced feel for the zone,” farm director Zach Wilson said. “He’s got an advanced feel to recognize pitches. The fact that showed up facing mostly college pitchers makes him very interesting, to say the least.”
On defense, Welker has “very special hands” and a plus arm, according to Wilson. At first sight, Welker, who is listed at 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds and has a bigger lower half, might not look like a typical third baseman.
Welker must continue to work on his lateral mobility and stay trim, something Diaz has no doubt the disciplined Welker will do.
“He loves to compete,” Diaz said “He stays in the moment. He takes great at-bats when the game is on the line, and he’s clutch. He drives the ball from gap to gap.”
ROCKY ROADS
• Triple-A Albuquerque hitting coach John Shelby has left the organization after one season to become the Braves’ outfield and baserunning coordinator.
• Second baseman Forrest Wall spent about 80 percent of his time in instructional league playing center field. Wall, the 35th overall pick in 2014, made 32 errors playing second base this season at high Class A Modesto. He stole 22 bases for the Nuts but hit just .264/.329/.355 in 120 California League games.
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