Duke Welker

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Duke Welker

|position=Pitcher

|birth_date={{birth date and age|1986|2|10}}

|birth_place=Kirkland, Washington

|bats=Left

|throws=Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=June 23

|debutyear=2013

|debutteam=Pittsburgh Pirates

| finaldate = June 25

| finalyear = 2013

| finalteam = Pittsburgh Pirates

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Win–loss record

|stat1value=0–0

|stat2label=Earned run average

|stat2value=0.00

|stat3label=Strikeouts

|stat3value=1

|stat4label=WHIP

|stat4value=0.00

|teams=

Pittsburgh Pirates ({{mlby|2013}})

}}

Matthew Scott "Duke" Welker (born February 10, 1986) is a former professional baseball pitcher.

High school and college

Welker attended Woodinville High School in Woodinville, Washington. He was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 34th round (1023rd overall) in the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft, but chose to attend Seminole State College. He was drafted by the Mariners again, this time in the 39th round (1163rd overall) of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft, but he did not sign again. He played for the Anchorage Glacier Pilots in the Alaska Baseball League in 2006.{{cite web|url=http://www.arkansasrazorbacks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=6100&ATCLID=561057&SPID=2415&SPSID=30667|title=Diamond Hogs Welcome 23 Newcomers for 2007|date=August 21, 2006}} In August 2006, he transferred to the University of Arkansas,{{cite web|url=http://www.arkansasrazorbacks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=6100&ATCLID=561057&SPID=2415&SPSID=30667|title=Diamond Hogs Welcome 23 Newcomers for 2007|date=August 21, 2006}} where he played college baseball for the Arkansas Razorbacks baseball team in the Southeastern Conference.

Professional career

The Pittsburgh Pirates drafted Welker in the second round, with the 68th overall selection, of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft. He signed with the team on June 17, 2007.{{cite news|title=Twins Opt For Kris Johnson, Not Duke Welker, To Complete Morneau Trade|url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/majors/pirates-sub-kris-johnson-for-duke-welker-completing-morneau-trade/|accessdate=October 11, 2015|work=Baseball America|date=November 18, 2013}} The Pirates initially planned to keep Welker as a starting pitcher.{{cite news|title=Another Duke on the horizon|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jOlRAAAAIBAJ&pg=3642,857874&dq=duke-welker&hl=en|accessdate=October 11, 2015|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|via=Google News|date=July 22, 2007}} He struggled in his first professional seasons,{{cite web |last=Whiteford |first=Mike |url=http://wvgazette.com/Sports/201005170942 |title=Power's Welker moves beyond difficult year |work=Charleston Gazette |date=2010-05-17 |accessdate=2012-05-14 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100519235949/http://wvgazette.com/Sports/201005170942 |archivedate=2010-05-19 }} before achieving better results. Welker was added to the Pirates' 40 man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft after the 2011 season.{{cite news|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11323/1191159-63.stm |title=Six minor leaguers join Pirates 40-man roster |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=November 19, 2011 |accessdate=February 4, 2012}}

Welker was called up by the Pirates from the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians on May 8, 2013.{{cite news|last1=Singer|first1=Tom|title=Welker called up as Bucs face his hometown team|url=http://m.pirates.mlb.com/news/article/46959038/welker-called-up-as-bucs-face-his-hometown-team|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304084233/http://m.pirates.mlb.com/news/article/46959038/welker-called-up-as-bucs-face-his-hometown-team|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 4, 2016|accessdate=September 9, 2015|work=MLB.com|date=May 8, 2013}} He was optioned back to Indianapolis on May 11.{{cite news|title=Liriano gets easy win in Pirates debut|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2013/05/11/liriano-gets-easy-win-in-pirates-debut/|access-date=September 9, 2015|work=Chicago Tribune|agency=Reuters|date=May 11, 2013}} Welker was called up again on June 20,{{cite news|last1=Warnemuende|first1=Jeremy|title=Reliever Welker recalled, Presley optioned|url=http://m.pirates.mlb.com/news/article/51226352/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304084227/http://m.pirates.mlb.com/news/article/51226352/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 4, 2016|accessdate=September 9, 2015|work=MLB.com|date=June 20, 2013}} and made his major league debut three days later, against the Los Angeles Angels, pitching a scoreless eighth inning in relief.{{cite news|title=Pirates rally for three runs in 9th, then top Angels in 10|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=330623103|access-date=September 9, 2015|agency=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com|date=June 23, 2013}} He threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings in all for the Pirates before being optioned back to the minors. He maintained a 3-4 record plus a 3.25 ERA in 61 innings (41 games) with 9 saves and 64 strikeouts while in their AAA affiliate.{{cite news|last1=Seiner|first1=Jake|title=Twins, Pirates swap Triple-A hurlers|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-64052400|access-date=September 9, 2015|publisher=Minor League Baseball|date=November 19, 2013}}

On August 31, Welker was announced as the probable player to be named later traded to the Twins (along with Alex Presley) for Justin Morneau.{{cite news|last1=Singer|first1=Tom|title=Morneau energized by atmosphere surrounding Bucs|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/justin-morneau-energized-by-joining-first-place-pirates/c-59117074|access-date=September 9, 2015|date=August 31, 2013}} Because Welker was on the Pirates' 40-man roster, he was not officially traded to the Twins until October 5.{{cite news|last1=Bollinger|first1=Rhett|title=Twins gain lefty in swap of pitchers with Pirates|url=http://m.twins.mlb.com/news/article/64049948|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304083904/http://m.twins.mlb.com/news/article/64049948|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 4, 2016|accessdate=September 9, 2015|work=MLB.com|date=October 5, 2013}} On November 19, Welker was traded back to the Pirates in exchange for LHP Kris Johnson.{{cite web |url=http://triblive.com/sports/pirates/5103211-74/pirates-spring-feb#axzz2l8VrGxzO |title=Pirates notebook: Bucs re-acquire pitcher Duke Welker from Twins for Kris Johnson |work=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review |first=Travis |last=Sawchik |date=November 19, 2013}}

Welker had Tommy John surgery on June 5, 2014.{{cite news|last1=Pianovich|first1=Stephen|title=Minor Leaguer Welker has Tommy John surgery|url=http://m.pirates.mlb.com/news/article/78565606/minor-leaguer-welker-has-tommy-john-surgery|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160213123008/http://m.pirates.mlb.com/news/article/78565606/minor-leaguer-welker-has-tommy-john-surgery|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 13, 2016|accessdate=September 9, 2015|work=MLB.com|date=June 6, 2014}} He was released by the Pirates on July 14, 2014.

On April 15, 2016, Welker signed a minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants. He was released on August 2, 2016.

Scouting report

Welker's fastball can reach {{convert|96|mph}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/sports/pirates/welker-not-household-name-but-theres-hope-221460/ |title=Welker not household name, but there's hope - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |publisher=Post-gazette.com |date=2012-05-09 |accessdate=2012-05-14}}