It might be hard to believe that Tyler Wells is already 31 years old. He’s one of just four current Orioles who played on the 2021 team. Keegan Akin, Dean Kremer and Ryan Mountcastle are the others.
In his eventful time with the Orioles, Wells, who’s one of the friendliest players on the team, has filled different roles.
The right-hander began as a Rule 5 draft pick whose future was uncertain. But as he slowly started to prove himself, Wells was allowed to pitch in more critical parts of the game.
By the time his rookie season was over, Wells had moved up to closer, even if there weren’t many decisions to save on a team that won just 52 games.
Wells impressed manager Brandon Hyde enough that he was made a starter in 2022. Though he had two stints on the injured list that season, he started 23 games, with a 7-7 record and 4.25 ERA as the Orioles improved by 31 wins.
His 2023 season started off well, with a 7-4 record and 3.18 in the first half. But after three rocky starts, he was sent to the minor leagues at the end of July and didn’t pitch for the Orioles again until September 22nd.
Wells concluded the ’23 season with five hitless relief innings and one strong relief outing against Texas in the Division Series, 3 1/3 scoreless innings with a hit.
In 2024, he began the season in the rotation but went on the injured list after three starts. Wells had right elbow surgery in June. He didn’t return until last September and pitched well in four starts with a 2-a record and a 2.91 ERA.
With Kyle Bradish, Trevor Rogers, Dean Kremer and Zach Eflin returning and the addition of Shane Baz, and possibly someone else in the coming weeks, where does that leave Wells in 2026?
“As of right now, I would say it’s just going to continue to develop,” Wells said on Friday at the Birdland Caravan. “It’s just continuing to prepare to contribute to the team however I can.”
Wells hasn’t been a full-time starter in the major leagues. In 2023, he pitched 118 2/3 innings, so perhaps it’s unrealistic to think that Wells could remain in the rotation for all of 2026.
“It’s not really up to me to say. If I’m a starter, I would hopefully not have any sort of massive limitation,” Wells said. “I think it’s just important I go in with a clear head and make sure I stay healthy. That’s where my value needs to be this year, is to really just make sure I stay healthy.
“I don’t really necessarily want an innings limitation. I just want to go out there and compete.”
He’s seen the good and bad during his five seasons, and likes the moves the team has made during the offseason.
“As a collective, the team is looking phenomenal,” Wells said. “In spring training, everyone starts to learn each other, get to know the new guys and understand [Craig Albernaz] a little more as a manager. “I think it’s going to be really cool. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
At 6-foot-8, Wells towers over Albernaz, who’s listed as a foot shorter, though he’s quickly been won over.
“I really like him so far,” he said. “I think he’s a straight shooter, and I think that’s really important in this line of work. He expects us to show up and work every single day. He wants us to be intentional with our time. He wants us to be intentional with the relationships we have with our teammates.”
Wells is hoping to benefit from Eflin’s years of experience. He was acquired from Tampa Bay in July 2024, after Wells had his season-ending surgery. By the time Wells was ready to pitch again, Eflin had already had back surgery, which prematurely ended his 2025 season.
“Eflin’s one of the best human beings you can have in a clubhouse,” Wells said “He’s also a really good pitcher. Flushing last year and seeing what he did the year before, he’s going to be valuable to a lot of people in this clubhouse, just being able to kind of rely on him as a person, just normal conversations, but also as a pitcher with a lot of experience.”
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