Orioles place Wells on injured list with right elbow inflammation

BALTIMORE—The Orioles placed right-hander Tyler Wells on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to April 13^th, because of right elbow inflammation. Wells, who was scheduled to start on Wednesday against the Twins, is 0-2 with a 5.87 earned-run average in three starts.

The Orioles will need a starter for Wednesday and could recall left-hander Bruce Zimmermann, whose scheduled start for Triple-A Norfolk is on Thursday.

Left-hander John Means is scheduled to start for the Tides on his rehab assignment on Wednesday. Means and Kyle Bradish, who were expected to be in the Orioles’ starting rotation to begin the season, are on the injured list, and now Wells will join them.

Wells was on the injured list in 2021 with right shoulder discomfort, and in 2022 was on the IL twice with an oblique strain and right shoulder inflammation. He had Tommy John surgery in 2019 and was taken in the Rule 5 draft by the Orioles in December 2020.

Catcher David  Bañuelos, who had been on the taxi squad, had his contract selected from Norfolk. He has yet to play in the major leagues.

To make room for Bañuelos on the 40-man roster, the Orioles designated infielder Liván Soto for assignment. Soto was claimed off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels for the second time in two months on April 11^th.