Tyler Wells Reflects on Tenure With Baltimore Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles decided to move in a different direction at this year's trade deadline. While the initial plan was to buy and push for the playoffs, president of baseball operations Mike Elias changed course as the Orioles continued to lose games leading up to the deadline.

While Orioles fans felt the sting of the Adley Rutschman trade, another longtime Oriole was also shipped off in right-hander Tyler Wells. Moments before the deadline, Baltimore sent Wells to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for pitching prospect Michael Forret.

With the Orioles currently in Tampa Bay playing game two of a four-game set against the Rays on Saturday, Wells got a chance to speak with Baltimore media and reflect on his time with the organization.

"Baltimore, obviously, is always gonna hold a special place in my heart. I went from a Double-A player who hadn't played in two years to all of a sudden, I'm in the big leagues. Been with them through some pretty significant moments through the last six years," Wells said.

"To be able to come back and play them today is a little weird in that sense, to be on the other side of some of the lifelong friends that I've created over there," he continued (h/t Jake Rill of MLB.com).

Wells' journey did not begin with the Orioles. He was originally drafted back in the 2016 MLB Draft by the Minnesota Twins. He spent three seasons there before Minnesota decided not to protect Wells from the Rule 5 Draft, allowing Baltimore to add him to their 40-man roster. Since then, Wells became a reliable player in whatever role Baltimore asked of him.

He began his career in 2021 making 44 appearances and posting a 4.11 ERA, striking out 65 hitters in 57 innings. That was impressive enough for Baltimore to transition him into a starter in 2022 and 2023. He was solid in both seasons, especially 2023 when he posted a 3.64 ERA across 25 appearances and helped the Orioles win over 100 games.

Unfortunately, the next two seasons were derailed by injuries. He suffered a right elbow injury in April 2024 leading to an internal brace procedure that cost him most of both seasons, with a lengthy rehab delaying his return well into 2025.

In 2026 it was clear he no longer had a role as a starter, but it worked out as he was once again extremely effective in relief, posting a 2.67 ERA across 43 appearances.

That performance led Baltimore to flip him for Forret, now a top-10 prospect in their system who could make an impact as soon as 2027.

As Wells begins his new chapter in Tampa Bay, he is clearly appreciative of the time he spent in Baltimore, the first organization to give him a real chance.