Brandon Welch

Welch was primarily an outfielder in high school, though he closed from time to time, and he played both ways as a freshman last year at Daytona State (Fla.) JC, posting a 5.68 ERA. He transferred to Palm Beach State JC as a sophomore, moving into the rotation and going 4-3, 2.83 with 79 strikeouts and 13 walks in 76 innings. The athletic, quick-armed Welch generated buzz early in the spring, showing one of the liveliest arms in Florida and sitting around 92-94 mph and touching 96 with his fastball. The separating factor was a power slider that at times reached 84-87 mph, with depth. With all the talent in the state's high school and college ranks, though, scouts had a hard time bearing down on juco players, and when they checked in at the state tournament in May, Welch's velocity had dipped into the 87-90 range. Welch, a Florida Atlantic signee, is a bit undersized at 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, so most scouts see him as a reliever at the pro level.