After a big year in 2017, Colorado Rockies’ prospect Colton Welker has gotten off to another fast start in 2018 for the Lancaster JetHawks. On the heels of a 2017 season in which he hit .350/.401/.500 across 279 plate appearances with Class A Asheville, the 20-year-old third baseman continued his hot start to 2018 by collecting another pair of hits—a double and a homer—in four at-bats in Thursday’s loss to the Lake Elsinore Storm.
Through his first 35 plate appearances, Welker has put together an absurd triple slash line of .519/.600/.963, unbelievable numbers even for a hitter who plays his home games in Lancaster. Fresh off a glowing review from Wilson Karaman at Baseball Prospectus, in which Welker’s swing is described as “electric,” the fourth round pick from the 2016 draft could see his prospect stock continue to rise if the big summer he appears primed for does indeed come to fruition.
★ ★ ★
Triple-A: Las Vegas 51s 10, Albuquerque Isotopes 3
Raimel Tapia: 0-for-1, K (ejected after first at-bat for arguing balls and strikes)
Tom Murphy (no. 11 PuRP): DNP
Jordan Patterson (no. 14 PuRP): 0-for-4, K
Noel Cuevas (HM PuRP): 0-for-4, K
Harrison Musgrave: 4 IP, 5 H, 4 R (2 ER), BB, 4 K
★ ★ ★
Double-A: Day off
★ ★ ★
High-A: Lake Elsinore Storm 6, Lancaster JetHawks 2
Colton Welker (no. 5 PuRP): 2-for-4, 2B, HR, RBI, BB, 2 K
Tyler Nevin (no. 12 PuRP): 1-for-3, BB, K
Forrest Wall (no. 16 PuRP): 0-for-3, 2 BB, K
Willie Abreu (no. 26 PuRP): 1-for-5, K, CS
Vince Fernandez (no. 28 PuRP): 1-for-3, BB, K, CS
Trey Killian: 3 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, K
★ ★ ★
Low-A: Columbia Fireflies 7, Asheville Tourists 5 (10 innings)
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Ryan Vilade (no. 7 PuRP): 0-for-4, K
Ben Bowden (no. 20 PuRP): IP, 0 R, 2 BB, K
Robert Tyler (no. 24 PuRP): 2 IP, H, 0 R, BB
Chad Spanberger (no. 29 PuRP): 0-for-4
Tommy Doyle (no. 30 PuRP): 11⁄3 IP, 4 H, 2 R (1 ER), BB, 3 K
Sean Bouchard (ninth round, 2017): 0-for-2, BB, RBI, 2 K, CS
★ ★ ★
Friday Probables
Triple-A Albuquerque: Sam Howard (No. 10 PuRP, 1-0, 3.60 ERA) vs. Salt Lake, 6:35 PM MT
Double-A Hartford: Jesus Tinoco (HM PuRP, 0-1, 4.50 ERA) @ New Hampshire, 4:35 PM MT
High-A Lancaster: TBD @ Lake Elsinore, 8:00 PM MT
Low-A Asheville: Garrett Schilling (0-0, 6.75 ERA) vs. Columbia, 5:05 PM MT