Todd Welborn

Stephen Todd Welborn

• Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 215 lb.
• School Appalachian State University
• High School East Wilkes High School
• Born November 10, 1963 in Guilford County, NC USA
• Died September 21, 2014 in Winston-Salem, NC USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Pitcher Todd Welborn played in the New York Mets system from 1985 to 1989.

He was drafted three times -- first by the Oakland Athletics in the 16th round of the 1982 amateur draft, next in the 1st round (second overall, after outfielder Tracy Jones) of the 1983 amateur draft January Secondary Phase and finally by the Mets in the fourth round of the 1985 amateur draft (the same round as outfielder David Justice, one pick after pitcher Brian Dubois).

Welborn began his career by going 1-8 in 21 games his first two campaigns, with significant improvement from the 1985 Little Falls Mets (1-4, 6.00 ERA, 33 BB in 21 IP) to 1986 Little Falls (0-4, 2 Sv, 3.67, 37 H, 29 BB, 47 K in 49 IP).

He performed well in 1987, going 9-2 with 23 saves and a 1.60 ERA in 57 games between the Lynchburg Mets (37 G, 5-1, 15 Sv, 2.48 ERA), Columbia Mets (8 G, 4 Sv, 0.00 ERA) and Jackson Mets (12 G, 4-1, 4 Sv, 0.47 ERA). He was 5th in the Carolina League in saves despite a partial season there and led Mets farmhands by two over Tom McCarthy. He was ranked the #6 prospect in the Mets' system going into 1988 by Baseball America. His career ended after going 0-14 for Jackson over his last two seasons; he was 0-11 with 10 saves and a 6.00 ERA in 1988, walking 63 in 63 innings. He tied Dean Freeland and Jim Hunter for 4th in the Texas League in losses, was 9th in saves and tied Bill Mooneyham and Joe Olker for 10th in walks. He was 0-3 with two saves and a 4.91 ERA in 1989, walking 29 in 36 2/3 IP.

Overall, he was 10-24 with a 4.10 ERA in 147 games over five seasons. He walked 188 in 237 innings, though he allowed only 171 hits and struck out 225. He later was assistant coach at Appalachian State (1995-2000) and North Wilkes High School (2001-2002). In 2012, he returned to East Wilkes High School as assistant coach despite battling colon cancer at the time.

His twin brother, Tony Welborn, played in the Montreal Expos system from 1986 to 1988.

Sources include Wilkes Journal-Patriot '