Tyler Wells had to battle for a spot in the Orioles’ rotation during spring training.
The 28-year-old has been a bulldog on the mound and has solidified his role in pitching every fifth day.
Wells, who was selected by the Orioles from the Minnesota Twins in the Rule 5 Draft in December 2020, is fully healthy and ready to embrace the opportunity in the rotation, especially with the team no longer having to monitor his pitch count and innings.
On the season, the 6-foot-8, 260-pound right-hander is 1-1 with a 2.79 ERA and 0.72 WHIP in five appearances (four starts).
“It’s definitely nice this year, being able to let him go pitch,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. “[Limiting him] was something we needed to do last year and had to do and should do. But this year, obviously, the leash is longer, and it’s fun to watch him go out there and go as long as he can.”
The Orioles broke Wells into the big leagues in 2021 as a reliever, but last spring, the Orioles decided to move the right-hander into a starting role. However, the team wanted to be prudent because Wells underwent Tommy John surgery in 2019 and did not pitch during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
Despite those previous limitations, Wells has strengthened his pitching repertoire.
His four-seam fastball reaches 95 mph and he is also able to throw a slider, curveball and changeup. Last season, he set career highs in starts (23), wins (7), innings pitched (103.2), and strikeouts (76). Wells tied for second on the team in starts with Kyle Bradish, trailing only Jordan Lyles (32).
This year, Hyde has no reservations about stretching Wells out and letting him pitch deep into games. So far, Wells has responded and put the team in a position to win games.
In a 6-2 win against the Boston Red Sox on April 26, Wells earned the win after allowing two runs on four hits with one walk and a career-high-tying seven strikeouts. He also struck out the side in order for the second time in his career in the top of the fourth inning. Wells threw a career-high 102 pitches and 68 strikes.
Despite the win and the effective numbers, Wells was not happy with his performance. Nonetheless, it was another encouraging start.
“The team had my back all day, making great plays behind me,” Wells said. “The bullpen had my back. I didn’t think I had my best stuff today, to be honest with you. I didn’t think I had my best locations. It was kind of a grind out there for sure, but ultimately we just focused on the plan, tried to execute it and got the job done.”
Wells is a grinder, and that personality has endeared him to his coaches and teammates.
When Bradish had to leave the game when he was hit on the right foot by a 104 mph line drive in the second inning on April 3 on the road against the Texas Rangers, Wells took over and was dominant. He threw five scoreless innings with no hits, no walks, and two strikeouts in the 2-0 victory.
That performance further elevated his status as a starter.
“You just go out there and you do it,” Wells said of the emergency outing. “You don’t even have time to think, and it’s pretty quick and it happens really fast. Sometimes, that works out in your favor as well.”
Ortiz Makes Splash In Debut
Orioles rookie infielder Joey Ortiz didn’t waste any time making an impact with the big league club.
Just hours after being promoted from Triple-A Norfolk, Ortiz started at second base and went 1-for-3 with 3 RBIs in the Orioles’ 7-4 victory against the Detroit Tigers on April 28.
Ortiz became the first Orioles player to drive in three runs in his MLB debut since Don Baylor on Sept. 18, 1970.
“I honestly didn’t know what I was expecting for this game and it was truly a blessing to be able to go out there and play,” Ortiz told the media after the game.
Ortiz, the No. 87 prospect in the game according to Baseball America, pulled the Orioles to within 3-2 in the fifth inning on a two-run single. He then cut the margin to 4-3 with a sacrifice fly in the seventh.
It was another encouraging start for a promising prospect.
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