Tyler Wells was a key reliever for the Orioles down the stretch of the 2021 season. They’re hoping for a repeat in 2023.
After making three begins with Double-A Bowie, Wells will be a part of Triple-A Norfolk to work out of the Tides’ bullpen, supervisor Brandon Hyde stated earlier than Tuesday night time’s matchup with the Toronto Blue Jays.
The right-hander, who turns 29 on Saturday, was Baltimore’s greatest starter within the first half, however indicators of fatigue confirmed in his three begins out of the All-Star break. Using Wells as a reliever will assist the crew handle a career-high workload whereas additionally probably including one other succesful arm to Hyde’s late-inning combine.
“Definitely want to see what that looks like just because of how Tyler pitched out of the bullpen a couple years ago and how well he did there,” Hyde stated. “He’s thrown a lot of innings this year for us in the rotation and kind of where we are, hopefully we can stay healthy the rest of the way, but just kind of want to see what it looks like out of the ’pen right now.”
Wells will make his first look for Norfolk on Wednesday. The Orioles acquired Wells within the second spherical of the Rule 5 draft earlier than the 2021 season. At the time, Wells had made six appearances above High-A and hadn’t pitched since 2018, shedding the 2019 season to Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgical procedure and 2020 to the canceled minor league season amid the coronavirus pandemic. Baltimore used him out of the bullpen, and though he struggled early, Wells posted the fourth-lowest stroll charge amongst pitchers who threw at the least 30 innings from June on, briefly serving because the Orioles’ nearer.
Baltimore elected to return Wells to a beginning position in 2022, although he operated beneath strict inning and pitch limits. He pitched nicely within the first half however spent a lot of the second half on the injured listing. He beat out prime pitching prospect Grayson Rodriguez for the Orioles’ fifth rotation spot this spring then shortly justified that call. In 18 first-half outings, Wells posted a 3.18 ERA and led the majors with a 0.927 WHIP.
But he wasn’t the identical pitcher after the All-Star break, issuing 9 walks and permitting 11 runs over 9 innings in three begins. The Orioles optioned him to Bowie, the place in three begins he by no means gave up multiple run but additionally by no means went greater than 3 1/3 innings. In his last Double-A begin Saturday, Wells threw 27 pitches over two innings in a deliberate shorter look. His 122 1/3 innings throughout ranges are three greater than his earlier profession excessive, set in 2018 whereas within the Minnesota Twins’ minor league system.
His remaining outings will even be temporary, with the Orioles making ready him to spice up a bullpen that’s crammed with different arms approaching profession highs for utilization. Backend relievers Félix Bautista and Yennier Cano had been All-Stars, however each are on tempo to pitch essentially the most innings they’ve in affiliated baseball.
After buying inconsistent right-hander Shintaro Fujinami in a commerce with the Oakland Athletics in July, the Orioles sought extra aid assist earlier than the Aug. 1 commerce deadline however had been unable to make a further transfer. Baltimore did add one other bullpen arm off waivers in buying Jacob Webb from the Los Angeles Angels, with the right-hander starting his Orioles tenure with seven scoreless appearances.
The crew has different reinforcements coming past Wells. Left-hander John Means pitched 4 innings for Bowie on Sunday as he works towards an early September return from Tommy John surgical procedure. Right-hander Austin Voth, on the injured listing with proper elbow discomfort since mid-June, could possibly be activated this week. Left-hander DL Hall has regained his velocity after a strengthening interval on the Orioles’ Sarasota, Florida, advanced and could possibly be a weapon down the stretch.
Around the horn
- Outfielder Anthony Santander was out of the lineup with a sore again for the third straight sport, however Hyde stated the veteran was feeling higher and could possibly be out there off the bench.
- The Orioles promoted right-hander Trace Bright, their fifth-round decide within the 2022 draft, from High-A Aberdeen to Bowie. Baltimore’s No. 30 prospect per Baseball America, Bright, 22, posted a 35% strikeout charge for the IronBirds, the fourth-best amongst all minor leaguers with at the least 80 innings pitched.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com