Pierce Slugger Welles to Play Baseball for Pepperdine

Robby Welles, who led Pierce College to a third-place finish in the state junior college baseball tournament this spring, has committed to national champion Pepperdine.

Welles, a 6-foot-4 designated hitter, was selected in the 17th round of the amateur draft by the San Francisco Giants, but declined the Giants’ offer. Welles must complete work for his Associate of Arts degree at Pierce this fall before enrolling in Pepperdine next spring.

Pepperdine has not offered Welles an athletic scholarship. Instead, he will receive an undisclosed amount of money in grants to attend the school.

Welles visited the Pepperdine campus Tuesday and spoke with Waves’ Coach Andy Lopez.

“(Welles) told me he would be here in the second semester,” Lopez said.

Welles was an All-Bay League pitcher/outfielder at Beverly Hills High and was selected as a pitcher in the 26th round of the 1990 amateur draft by the Minnesota Twins. Welles turned down the Twins’ offer to accept a full scholarship to Arizona State, where he hoped to be given the opportunity to hit as well as pitch.

Welles had a disappointing 1991 season at ASU, which wanted him to pitch only. He appeared in three of the Sun Devils’ 62 games, giving up two runs and seven walks in 2 1/3 innings.

Welles transferred to Pierce and batted .329 with 11 doubles, 54 runs batted in and a school-record 14 home runs. Pierce (34-8-1) had its best season.

Pepperdine (48-11-1) won the NCAA Division I College World Series on June 6 with a 3-2 victory over Cal State Fullerton. It was Pepperdine’s first national championship in baseball.

Welles, who pitched sparingly at Pierce because of an injured shoulder, will be tried at first base.

“He won’t be a pitching candidate, he’ll be an everyday player,” Lopez said.