Since being drafted in the fourth round of the 2016 Draft, all Colton Welker had done in the Rockies' organization was hit. Heading into the '19 season, the corner infielder had a .337 career batting average. It looked like the move to Double-A wasn’t going to faze him a bit

Since being drafted in the fourth round of the 2016 Draft, all Colton Welker had done in the Rockies' organization was hit. Heading into the '19 season, the corner infielder had a .337 career batting average. It looked like the move to Double-A wasn’t going to faze him a bit as Colorado's No. 3 prospect hit .356 in his first month in the Eastern League.

Things got tougher from there and he hit just .203/.278/.314 in the second half of the year. He spent about a month, from mid-July to mid-August, on the injured list. One of the younger hitters in the Eastern League, he’s now playing for the Salt River Rafters in the Arizona Fall League in order to find his way back to his true self at the plate.

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“I came out hot and it was a great feeling,” Welker said. “[The Eastern League is] a tough league. The people really pitch in the Eastern League and I think they really got the scouting report on me and attacked it. I think it took me a little bit to adapt in those months I struggled. I got out of my approach a little bit; I was yanking balls and not staying all over the field, trying to lift the ball a little too much.

“In this league, I think I’m going to get back to who I am. I know I can hit, and I think I can hit at a high level.”

He’s doing that while continuing to learn a new position. A solid third baseman, Welker is obviously blocked at the Major League-level at the hot corner by perennial All-Star and National League MVP Award candidate Nolan Arenado, so Welker started getting time at first base for the first time in his career with Hartford and is continuing to learn there this fall, while still getting reps at third. Versatility is an asset these days, and Welker is trying to not be too concerned about who is on the depth chart ahead of him as he works his way up to Colorado.

“I just try to come out here and do my thing and hopefully just keep riding the ladder up,” Welker said. “I’ve seen a lot of kids I played with in Double-A up in the big leagues. That gives you hope, even on stacked rosters. There definitely is a way to get up there. If you play well, I don’t think there’s any reason to stop that.”

His time in the AFL certainly can help, and Welker seems well aware of how great the opportunity is. Being able to come to his Spring Training home certainly hasn’t hurt.

“I’m definitely very excited and thrilled to be out here,” Welker said. “It’s a bunch of great competition, great players out here. It is a long season, but at the same time, it’s great to get the exposure out here and keep playing ball.

“This place is the best place in all of baseball. I love it here and it’s definitely awesome having our clubhouse and some of the Rockies guys here to play with.”

Rockies hitters in the AFL

Bret Boswell, 2B: Boswell, an eighth-round pick from the 2017 Draft, saw his numbers dip a bit this season as he reached Double-A for the first time. The 24-year-old University of Texas product raked (.296/.345/.529) across 127 games in his '18 professional debut, but was unable to replicate that production with Hartford. Boswell missed a bit of time because of two separate stints on the injured list, but when he was healthy, he hit .219/.290/.367 over 106 games. He did, however, fare batter in the second half, when he hit .257 (compared to .184 in the first half) and will look to build on that in Arizona, where he is a member of the Taxi squad (meaning he can play a maximum of two games per week).

Roberto Ramos, 1B (Rockies No. 28 prospect): Ramos hit 32 homers in 2018 to put him on the map, then hit 30 more in Triple-A in '19. One of many Rule 5-eligible Rockies players in Arizona this fall, Ramos will continue to try and show his power is legit and of value in a first base-only package.

Brian Serven, C: A fifth-round pick of the 2016 Draft out of Arizona State, Serven has moved one level at a time, spending the '19 season in Double-A. He’s shown off his outstanding defensive ability (50 percent caught stealing rate in '19, 48 percent for his career), but hasn’t consistently hit (.711 career OPS, .649 this past season). The AFL gives the Rockies more time to evaluate him for potential protection on the 40-man roster.

Rockies pitchers in the AFL

Ryan Castellani, RHP (No. 15): There was hope that Castellani would use his AFL experience in 2018 to springboard his way to the big leagues this year. But he was only able to make 10 very uneven starts in Triple-A due to an elbow issue, and he was shut down in June following surgery to remove particulates from his right elbow. He’s working to build himself back up and make up for lost innings this fall.

Ashton Goudeau, RHP: Goudeau was originally a 27th-round pick of the Royals out of junior college back in 2012, was traded to the Mariners just prior to the start of the '18 season, then signed with the Rockies as a Minor League free agent in November 2018. A reliever early in his career, he’s been given a chance to start over the last few years and showed some good things in Double-A in his first season with the Rockies organization, but spent two months on the injured list with a hand injury. He’s pitching out of the 'pen this fall, allowing Colorado to get more looks at exactly what they might have in the 27-year-old.

Alexander Guillen, RHP: Guillen signed back in January 2013 and kicked off his career with an elbow injury, keeping him from making his United States debut until '15. He’s moved slowly since, including two seasons in the California League, but his successful jump to Double-A in '19 (1.53 ERA, .182 opponents batting average, 10.7 K/9) has made him a much more intriguing power-armed relief prospect, one who might need to be protected on the 40-man roster.

Antonio Santos, RHP: The right-handed starter began the 2019 season in the California League and ended it in Double-A. He was a little too hittable (.280 BAA), but did post a nifty combined 140/28 K/BB ratio. Santos is working out of the bullpen this fall after throwing 145 innings during the regular season, as the Rockies are evaluating to see if he deserves a 40-man roster spot.