{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2021}} {{short description|American baseball player (born 1997)}} {{Infobox baseball biography |name = Colton Welker |image = |team = Free agent |number = |position = Third baseman |birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1997|10|9}} |birth_place = Coral Springs, Florida, U.S. |bats = Right |throws = Right |debutleague = MLB |debutdate = September 8 |debutyear = 2021 |debutteam = Colorado Rockies |statleague = MLB |statyear = 2021 season |stat1label = Batting average |stat1value = .189 |stat2label = Home runs |stat2value = 0 |stat3label = Runs batted in |stat3value = 2 |teams = * Colorado Rockies ({{mlby|2021}}) }} '''Colton Lawrence Welker''' (born October 9, 1997) is an American professional baseball third baseman who is a free agent. 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== ===Colorado Rockies=== 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2021/05/06/rockies-minor-leaguer-welker-gets-80-game-drug-suspension/115973780/|title=Colorado Rockies minor leaguer Colton Welker gets 80-game drug suspension|website=USA Today}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://parklandtalk.com/marjory-stoneman-douglas-colton-welker-12474|title=2016 State Champ Colton Welker Makes MLB Debut |first=Matt|last=Rothman|date=September 9, 2021|website=parklandtalk.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?year_ID=2016&draft_round=4&draft_type=junreg&query_type=year_round |title=4th Round of the 2016 MLB June Amateur Draft |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |date=January 1, 1970 |access-date=August 9, 2018}}</ref> He signed with Colorado for $855,000, foregoing his commitment to the University of Miami.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.perfectgame.org/Players/PlayerProfile.aspx?ID=337210|title=Colton Welker Class of 2016 - Player Profile|website=www.perfectgame.org|access-date=December 14, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=15996|title=PG in the Pros: NL West|website=Perfect Game}}</ref>
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.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=welker000col|title=Colton Welker Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics & History|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> 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.<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.purplerow.com/2017/8/25/16204906/colorado-rockies-prospect-colton-welker-returns-asheville-tourists|title=Friday Pebble Report: Colton Welker returns to Asheville lineup|first=Jordan|last=Freemyer|date=August 25, 2017|website=Purple Row|access-date=December 14, 2018}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=666213#/career/R/hitting/2018/ALL|title=Colton Welker Stats, Highlights, Bio|publisher=MiLB.com|access-date=October 20, 2018}}</ref> He was named a California League mid-season All-Star<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/california-league-announces-2018-all-star-rosters/|title=California League Announces 2018 All-Star Rosters|first=Kyle|last=Glaser|website=www.baseballamerica.com}}</ref> along with earning a post-season All-Star selection.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/lancaster/news/jethawks-receive-four-postseason-all-star-selections/c-291414586|title=JetHawks receive four Postseason All-Star Selections|website=MiLB.com|access-date=December 14, 2018}}</ref>
Welker spent 2019 with the Double–A Hartford Yard Goats,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.courant.com/sports/hc-sp-baseball-yard-goats-roster-2019-0402-20190401-tvrt5xjmlnhxjgzjquvz5syxua-story.html|title=Colton Welker, Rockies' No. 2 prospect, leads Yard Goats' Opening Day roster|first=Dom|last=Amore|website=courant.com|date=April 2019 }}</ref> hitting .252/.313/.408 with 10 home runs, 53 runs batted in, and 6 sacrifice flies (2nd in the Eastern League over 98 games.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/leader.cgi?id=a4458bd5&type=bat|title=2019 Eastern League Batting Leaders|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|access-date=April 24, 2024|website=mlb.com|language=en}}</ref> On November 20, 2020, the Rockies added Welker to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.<ref name="mlbtraderumors1">{{cite web|author=Connor Byrne |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/11/rockies-make-several-moves.html |title=Rockies Make Several Moves |publisher=MLB Trade Rumors |date=November 20, 2020 |access-date=February 2, 2021}}</ref> On May 6, 2021, Welker was suspended for 80 games after testing positive for chlorodehydromethyltestosterone.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/05/rockies-colton-welker-receives-80-game-suspension.html|first=Connor|last=Byrne|title=Rockies' Colton Welker Receives 80-Game Suspension|date=May 6, 2021|website=MLB Trade Rumors}}</ref> Playing for three minor league teams in 2021 he batted .258/.345/.483 in 120 at bats.<ref name="auto"/>
On September 8, 2021, Welker made his major league debut against the San Francisco Giants, flying out in his only at bat.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://coralspringstalk.com/marjory-stoneman-douglas-colton-welker-34630|title = 2016 State Champ Colton Welker Makes MLB Debut • Coral Springs Talk|date = September 9, 2021}}</ref> He batted .189 for Rockies for the season in 37 at bats.<ref name="auto"/>
In 2022, he began the season playing for the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes, batting .324/.422/.514 in 37 at bats.<ref name="auto"/> On June 3, 2022, it was announced that Welker would undergo season-ending surgery to treat a shoulder injury.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rockies' Colton Welker: Requires surgery|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/rockies-colton-welker-requires-surgery/amp/|access-date=2023-02-08|website=cbssports.com|language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref name="auto"/>
===San Francisco Giants=== 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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=SF Giants protect Marco Luciano, Luis Matos, and several other prospects from Rule 5 Draft|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/giants/news/sf-giants-marco-luciano-luis-matos-tristan-beck-jose-cruz-keaton-winn-brett-wisely-rule-5-draft|access-date=July 14, 2023|website=si.com|language=en}}</ref> On November 18, Welker was non–tendered by the Giants and became a free agent.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Giants non-tender 10 players|url=https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2022/11/18/23467255/san-francisco-giants-non-tender-10-players-2022-donnie-walton-mauricio-llovera-alex-young-lhp|access-date=July 31, 2023|website=mccoveychronicles.com|language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref>https://www.milb.com/transactions/2023-07-14</ref>
===York Revolution=== On April 8, 2024, Welker signed with the York Revolution of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Revs Sign Another Formidable Foursome|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/revs-sign-another-formidable-foursome/n-6076913|access-date=April 8, 2024|website=oursportscentral.com|language=en}}</ref> However, prior to the start of the season on April 24, he was released by York.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2024 Transactions|url=http://baseball.pointstreak.com/transactions.html?leagueid=174&seasonid=33927|access-date=April 24, 2024|website=baseball.pointstreak.com|language=en}}</ref> On May 11, Welker re–signed with the club.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Transactions|url=http://baseball.pointstreak.com/transactions.html?leagueid=174&seasonid=33927|access-date=May 11, 2024|website=baseball.pointstreak.com|language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Revs Are Champs! Rhino Named MVP After Walk-off Heroics|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/revs-are-champs-rhino-named-mvp-after-walk-off-heroics/n-6151951|access-date=September 29, 2024|website=oursportscentral.com|language=en}}</ref> He became a free agent following the season.
On October 9, 2024, Welker signed with the Saraperos de Saltillo of the Mexican League.<ref>https://www.milb.com/mexican/news/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-9-de-octubre-de-2024</ref> He was released by the Saraperos prior to the start of the season on April 15, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 15 de abril de 2025|url=https://lmb.com.mx/noticias/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-15-de-abril-de-2025|access-date=May 13, 2025|website=lmb.com.mx|language=es}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Baseballstats|mlb=666213|espn=36464|br=w/welkeco01|fangraphs=19961|brm=welker000col|retro=W/Pwelkc001}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Welker, Colton}} Category:1997 births Category:Living people Category:Albuquerque Isotopes players Category:21st-century American sportsmen Category:American sportspeople in doping cases Category:Arizona Complex League Rockies players Category:Asheville Tourists players Category:Colorado Rockies players Category:Grand Junction Rockies players Category:Hartford Yard Goats players Category:Indios de Mayagüez players Category:Lancaster JetHawks players Category:Major League Baseball third basemen Category:Sacramento River Cats players Category:Salt River Rafters players Category:Spokane Indians players Category:Baseball players from Coral Springs, Florida Category:York Revolution players Category:Doping cases in baseball