Tyler Wells

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Tyler Austin Wells

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Biographical Information[edit]

Giant-sized pitcher Tyler Wells was drafted in the 15th round of the 2016 amateur draft by the Minnesota Twins, out of California State University, San Bernardino. He was signed by scout John Leavitt and began his professional career that same year with the Elizabethton Twins of the Appalachian League, where he went 5-2, 3.23 in 10 games as a starting pitcher.

In 2017, he appeared briefly for the GCL Twins, on a rehabilitation assignment from a right shoulder strain, and also went 5-3, 3.11 in 14 starts for the Cedar Rapids Kernels of the Midwest League. He then moved up to the Fort Myers Miracle of the Florida State League in 2018, where he continued to do well, with a record of 8-4, 2.80. That earned him a promotion to the AA Southern League and the Chattanooga Lookouts where he finished the year by going 2-2, 1.65. Overall for the season, he was 10-6, 2.49 in 22 games, including 21 starts, and struck out 121 batters in 119 1/3 innings. He was on the verge of making it to the majors at that point, but fate intervened as he missed the entire 2019 season with an elbow sprain that required him to undergo Tommy John surgery in May, then all of 2020 because the Coronavirus pandemic shut down the minor leagues. Nonetheless, the Baltimore Orioles still selected him in the 2020 Rule V Draft with their second pick, after having taken Mac Sceroler, another pitcher, in the first round.

Both young pitchers impressed in spring training in 2021 and they ended up making the Opening Day roster as relievers even if they had both been starters up to that point. He made his major league debut in the team's third game of the season, pitching a scoreless inning to conclude an 11-3 win over the Boston Red Sox on April 4th. He was 2-3, 4.11 with 4 saves in his rookie season, logging 57 innings, then moved to the starting rotation in 2022. He was limited to 23 starts as the Orioles, who were a much improved team, did not want to increase his workload too much and allowed him to pitch just 103 2/3 innings. He was good during those, however, as he went 7-7, 4.25 and allowed just 90 hits. In 2023, the Orioles posted the best record in the American League and he pitched 25 times, including 20 starts, for a total of 118 2/3 innings. He finished at 7-6, 3.64 and also struck out 127 batters, easily a career high. He was in the bullpen for the postseason and appeared in all three games against the Texas Rangers in the Division Series, allowing just one hit and no walks in 3 1/3 innings.

In 2024, however, he made only 3 starts before being shut down in mid April with an elbow issue. He was 0-2, 5.87 at the time and the Orioles hoped that rest would be all that was required, but on May 31st they announced that he had a UCL tear in his throwing arm and would need to undergo season-ending surgery. Worse, this came on the same day as they announced that fellow starter John Means was also lost for the season with a similar issue.

Further Reading[edit]

  • Jake Rill: "O's lose Means, Wells to season-ending UCL surgeries", mlb.com, May 31, 2024. [1]

Related Sites[edit]

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