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Colton Welker

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Colton Welker
Saraperos de Saltillo
Third baseman
Born: (1997-10-09) October 9, 1997 (age 27)
Coral Springs, Florida, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 8, 2021, for the Colorado Rockies
MLB statistics
(through 2021 season)
Batting average.189
Home runs0
Runs batted in2
Teams

Colton Lawrence Welker (born October 9, 1997) is an American professional baseball third baseman for the Saraperos de Saltillo of the Mexican League. Welker was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the fourth round of the 2016 MLB draft and made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut in 2021 for the team.

Professional career

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Colorado Rockies

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Welker was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the fourth round of the 2016 MLB draft out of Stoneman Douglas High School (where he played shortstop and batted over .500 as a senior) in Parkland, Florida.[1][2][3] He signed with Colorado for $855,000, foregoing his commitment to the University of Miami.[4][5]

Welker spent the 2016 season playing third base with the rookie league Grand Junction Rockies, where he was named both a Pioneer League mid-season All-Star and a Rockies organizational All-Star at the end of the season after batting .329/.366/.491 with five home runs and 36 runs batted in during 51 games.[6] He spent 2017 with the Single–A Asheville Tourists where batted .350 (second in the South Atlantic League)/.401(3rd)/.500(9th) with six home runs, 33 runs batted ins, and leading the league with three intentional walks in only 67 games due to injury.[6][7]

In 2018, he played with the High–A Lancaster JetHawks where he slashed .333 (third in the league)/.383/.489 with 74 runs (7th in the league), 32 doubles (8th), 13 home runs, 82 runs batted in (4th), and two intentional walks (2nd), while grounding into 14 double plays (5th) and leading the league with 11 sacrifice flies in 114 games.[8] He was named a California League mid-season All-Star[9] along with earning a post-season All-Star selection.[10]

Welker spent 2019 with the Double–A Hartford Yard Goats,[11] hitting .252/.313/.408 with 10 home runs, 53 runs batted in, and 6 sacrifice flies (2nd in the Eastern League over 98 games.[12] He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[13] On November 20, 2020, the Rockies added Welker to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[14] On May 6, 2021, Welker was suspended 80 games after testing positive for chlorodehydromethyltestosterone.[15] Playing for three minor league teams in 2021 he batted .258/.345/.483 in 120 at bats.[6]

On September 8, 2021, Welker made his major league debut against the San Francisco Giants, flying out in his only at bat.[16] He batted .189 for Rockies for the season in 37 at bats.[6]

In 2022, he began the season playing for the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes, batting .324/.422/.514 in 37 at bats.[6] On June 3, 2022, it was announced that Welker would undergo season-ending surgery to treat a shoulder injury.[17] He was designated for assignment on July 6, 2022. In his career he had played primarily third base (299 games), with 54 games at first base.[6]

San Francisco Giants

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Welker was claimed off waivers by the San Francisco Giants on July 8, 2022. On November 15, Welker was designated for assignment by the Giants after they protected multiple prospects from the Rule 5 draft.[18] On November 18, Welker was non–tendered by the Giants and became a free agent.[19] He re–signed with the Giants on a minor league contract the following day.

Welker spent the 2023 season with the Triple–A Sacramento River Cats, playing in 43 games and hitting .237/.388/.274 with no home runs and 13 RBI. On July 14, 2023, Welker was released by the Giants organization.[20]

York Revolution

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On April 8, 2024, Welker signed with the York Revolution of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[21] However, prior to the start of the season on April 24, he was released by York.[22] On May 11, Welker re–signed with the club.[23] In 57 games for the Revolution, he slashed .347/.430/.621 with 11 home runs and 59 RBI. With York, Welker won the Atlantic League championship.[24] He became a free agent following the season.

Saraperos de Saltillo

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On October 9, 2024, Welker signed with the Saraperos de Saltillo of the Mexican League.[25]

References

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  1. ^ "Colorado Rockies minor leaguer Colton Welker gets 80-game drug suspension". USA Today.
  2. ^ Rothman, Matt (September 9, 2021). "2016 State Champ Colton Welker Makes MLB Debut". parklandtalk.com.
  3. ^ "4th Round of the 2016 MLB June Amateur Draft". Baseball-Reference.com. January 1, 1970. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  4. ^ "Colton Welker Class of 2016 - Player Profile". www.perfectgame.org. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  5. ^ "PG in the Pros: NL West". Perfect Game.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Colton Welker Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  7. ^ Freemyer, Jordan (August 25, 2017). "Friday Pebble Report: Colton Welker returns to Asheville lineup". Purple Row. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  8. ^ "Colton Welker Stats, Highlights, Bio". MiLB.com. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  9. ^ Glaser, Kyle. "California League Announces 2018 All-Star Rosters". www.baseballamerica.com.
  10. ^ "JetHawks receive four Postseason All-Star Selections". MiLB.com. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  11. ^ Amore, Dom (April 2019). "Colton Welker, Rockies' No. 2 prospect, leads Yard Goats' Opening Day roster". courant.com.
  12. ^ "2019 Eastern League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com.
  13. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  14. ^ Connor Byrne (November 20, 2020). "Rockies Make Several Moves". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  15. ^ Byrne, Connor (May 6, 2021). "Rockies' Colton Welker Receives 80-Game Suspension". MLB Trade Rumors.
  16. ^ "2016 State Champ Colton Welker Makes MLB Debut • Coral Springs Talk". September 9, 2021.
  17. ^ "Rockies' Colton Welker: Requires surgery". cbssports.com. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  18. ^ "SF Giants protect Marco Luciano, Luis Matos, and several other prospects from Rule 5 Draft". si.com. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  19. ^ "Giants non-tender 10 players". mccoveychronicles.com. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  20. ^ https://www.milb.com/transactions/2023-07-14
  21. ^ "Revs Sign Another Formidable Foursome". oursportscentral.com. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  22. ^ "2024 Transactions". baseball.pointstreak.com. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  23. ^ "Transactions". baseball.pointstreak.com. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  24. ^ "Revs Are Champs! Rhino Named MVP After Walk-off Heroics". oursportscentral.com. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  25. ^ https://www.milb.com/mexican/news/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-9-de-octubre-de-2024
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