Prep Baseball Report

Q&A with Dallas Baptist Commit RHP/C Colten Weber (Jackson, 2017)



Shon Plack
Missouri Scouting Director

Colten Weber (Jackson, 2017) is a 6-foot-2, 170-pound right hand-hitting catcher and right-handed pitcher that recently committed to Dallas Baptist.  Weber attended the Underclass Games last June and the PBR Future Games in July.

Behind the plate, Weber has an over-the-top arm slot with good arm strength.  He has fluid footwork with quick/clean exchange, pop times between 1.97 and 2.11, position velo at 80 mph.  

At the plate, Weber has an athletic setup with a smooth load.  His swing produces gap-to-gap line drives, and shows fast bat speed. He has an exit velo at 87 mph. Weber runs a 60 time of 7.40.

On the mound, Weber shows body control during his delivery with a loose arm action, staying in line as he gets down the mound.  Fastball topped at 86 mph, sitting 84-86 mph, slight run.  Curveball has 12-to-6 shape, fastball arm speed, down in zone, 74-78 mph, change-up with arm side release, 74-75 mph, near fastball arm speed.  Lean build with room to put on muscle and velocity.

Weber is playing soccer for his high school fall, but is still getting baseball workouts in.  He is ready to get Jackson back to the Class 5 state tournament in 2016. 

Here is a closer look at Colten Weber's road to Dallas Baptist. 

PBR: What were your expectations about the recruiting process? Was it as expected? Easy/Difficult?

Weber: I didn’t really know what to expect. I have always wanted to play baseball past high schooI.  I wasn’t expecting the process would start in my sophomore year.  For me, the process was not hard, it was fun and I learned a lot.  I was able to visit a number of great schools, coaches and programs.  I feel even more prepared for playing in college now.

PBR: Did location or distance from home play a factor in your decision?

Weber: No, after meeting the DBU coaches, seeing the campus and getting the offer, it wasn’t a factor.

PBR: Where did Dallas Baptist first see you? How did your relationship develop with them?

Weber: At a baseball camp at the Texas Baseball Ranch.  After that, they came to watch me play in a tournament game and then I went to visit the campus.  

PBR: Who is the best player you have faced in your state, and why?

Weber: I have faced a lot of good players, and you have to approach each one as a new and different challenge but that is what makes it so fun. It’s hard to call one specific player out but I can say that it wasn’t much fun trying to get Kameron Misner from Poplar Bluff out during District play.

PBR: Describe your experience at the PBR Future Games. 

Weber: I don’t think I have ever had that many coaches’ eyes on me when I had the ball.  The atmosphere was awesome. It was great competition; all the players were extremely talented and have bright futures in this sport.  It was an incredible honor to represent my state at that level of competition.

PBR: What advice would you give to young baseball players striving to get where you are?

Weber: Keep your head up and work hard no matter what is going on around you. No matter how talented you think you are, you can always get better.  Find the right team, coach, and fit for you.  Learn to do things the right way and practice, practice, practice. Also – Never give up, people develop at different stages.

PBR: What do you do in the offseason to keep yourself in baseball shape and prepare for the upcoming season?

Weber: I have always been a multisport athlete (baseball, basketball & soccer). I gave up basketball last year, I miss it, but I needed more time to focus on baseball in the winter. I play soccer for my high school team during the fall.  I have played soccer since I was 4 and it is a great way to stay in shape and have some fun. I also do baseball activities as much as possible, and lots of long toss.

PBR: What is the most memorable moment in your baseball career to this point? 

Weber: Stepping into the Varsity starting catcher position early in my sophomore season. The starting catcher was a senior and had gotten injured.  I had to jump into the spot after the start of a game so there wasn’t time to be nervous.  I just gave it everything I had and I got to play every inning after that.  We had a great team with almost all seniors, so it was a huge opportunity for me. We had an amazing year, made a state run, getting to the quarterfinals the first time in 60 years for our school and set a school record for the most wins in a single season. 

PBR: What other schools were on your short list before you made your final decision? 

Weber: Mizzou, MO State, SIU, Arkansas State, Murray and SEMO.  This was a lot considering I only did one showcase prior to the Futures Games and didn’t personally target any schools.

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? 

Weber: At the end of my sophomore year with postseason play and into the summer.  I went to a Showcase by Prep Baseball at Mizzou and then an amazing baseball camp in Texas.  There were a few;  the high school district championship game, then a tournament game in Kansas City later that summer, and performing well at the camp and showcase.

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 Jackson in 2016. 

Weber: We are coming off of a great year with some big shoes to fill, but I trust my teammates and we will be solid all the way around.  The goal is to get back to where we were this past year and go even farther.  A state title is the ultimate goal. Obviously, I plan to contribute as much as I possibly can. Our senior class is small, but talented.  We have a big junior class that is especially good – so we’re hoping for big things. I think we will have several players that will step up and play a key role this year.

PBR: Where do you play in the summer? And what has been your most memorable experience with them? 

Weber: I’ve played select baseball since I was 8 and American Legion since I was 15.  Where I live, the Bulls and the Capahas are also very good clubs, but American Legion has worked out well for me. There are a lot of my high school teammates that play Legion as well.  At the Kansas City tournament this past summer, DBU came to watch, I had the ball the first game and they had my back. Later that tournament we all went to a Royals game, it poured so during the rain delay we passed the time sliding head first through the concourse in trash bags. It was a great weekend.

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