Q&A with Arkansas State Commit RHP Bradey Welsh (Marhsfield, 2015)
January 20, 2015
Shon Plack
Missouri Scouting Director
B radey Welsh (Marshfield, 2015) has committed to play baseball at Arkansas State next fall. Welsh Welsh is a strong, athletic 6-foot-1, 155-pound right-handed pitcher, and touched 90 mph at two PBR events last summer, The Ozark Prospect ID and The Class of 2015 Prospect Games.
On the mound, he has a high ¾ delivery and lightning quick arm speed. Welsh throws with regular effort, has smooth rhythm, and stays level with his shoulders. His fastball has a fastball velocity range of 87-90 mph with run and sink. He throws an 11-to-5 curveball at 72-76 MPH with late break. He also displays a splitter that ranged from 77-78 MPH with near fastball arm speed and good sink.
Although Welsh projects on the mound, he shows will at SS as well. He has a positional velo of 85 mph with fluid footwork and clean glove-to-hand exchanges. He runs a 6.90 60 and a 4.50 home-to-first. At the plate, Welsh has a slightly open setup with a smooth load. He has fast bat speed and cuts off a bit in his finish. He shows some pop to the pull gap and has a gap-to-gap approach. His exit velo is 87 mph.
Currently, Welsh is tuning up for the spring season. Here is a look into how Welsh chose Arkansas State.
PBR: What were your expectations about the recruiting process? Was it as expected? Easy/Difficult?
Welsh: I was hoping the recruiting process would be easy when I first started playing travel baseball. I thought I would go play, have fun, and then talk to college coaches after the game. It wasn’t like that at all though. I realized that I needed to step up my game and do everything as hard as I could because coaches are always watching.
PBR: Did location or distance from home play a factor in your decision?
Welsh: Not really. I was keeping all my options open no matter where the college was.
PBR: Where did Arkansas State first see you? How did your relationship develop with them?
Welsh: I don’t know for sure where they first saw me or heard about me. They texted me at school one day asking if I would be interested in coming on a visit.
PBR: Who is the best player you have faced in your state, and why?
Welsh: Hunter Steinmetz. He has good plate discipline and plate vision. He is also very fast. He plays centerfield and he reads the ball off the bat very well.
PBR: What were you looking for out of a college program to continue your baseball career at?
Welsh: I wanted the college to be good at baseball. I wanted to know where they think I would be coming in as a freshman. I wanted to like the college in general. Good facilities and a good town.
PBR: What advice would you give to young baseball players striving to get where you are?
Welsh: Always hustle. Even if you are going to play catch, getting a foul ball, or going to your position. Be respectful to coaches and don’t be afraid to ask questions. If you have a bad game or make a mistake, don’t get down on yourself. Forget about it and move on.
PBR: What do you do in the offseason to keep yourself in baseball shape and prepare for the upcoming season?
Welsh: I play basketball in the offseason so I am always running and doing an activity. I workout, throw, and hit almost every other day. In the winter I don’t throw for 6-8 weeks. I do this because it gives my arm time to build up and recover.
PBR: What is the most memorable moment in your baseball career to this point? Throwing 91 at the Kansas City Royals showcase.
Welsh: What do you like most about Arkansas State and what were the key factors in making your decision? I really like the coaches. That was the key factor in my decision. They are very kind and easy to get along with.
PBR: What other schools were on your short list before you made your final decision?
Welsh: Jeff Co was my number 1 choice before Arkansas State contacted me. Saint Louis University, Campbell University, and Oral Roberts University were in contact with me as well.
PBR: When did the recruiting process really start to heat up for you? Was there a particular game or event that you feel turned the corner for you?
Welsh: When I threw 90 at the PBR showcase in Springfield, MO.
PBR: Preview your high school season for us. How do you feel your team will be? What are your expectations and goals? Name some players that will play a key role for Marshfield in 2015.
Welsh: I feel like are team will be pretty good. We have a lot of players coming back. Our goals are to win districts this year. Lukas Clift, Ben Noel, and Chris Visconte should be some of our key players.
PBR:: Describe your experience on the Royals Elite Scout Team. What was the process for making the team?
Welsh: I had to go to Kansas City, Kansas for a tryout/showcase. The Royals scouts evaluate you and then call you and tell you if you made the team.
PBR: Where do you play in the summer? And what has been your most memorable experience with them?
Welsh: Last summer I played with the Midwest Warducks. When we went to California we all hung out at the beach and went to a concert together. It was a great team experience and we had a lot of fun.
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