Will Tyler Wells stretch out this year?

[Just Regular]

Some chatter the Red Sox will give Garrett Whitlock a starter's spring, coming off his great 2021.    As Minor League SP's, 2021 Rule 5 and 2019 TJ twins who both had promising first years in a relief role, it sort of feels like whatever strategic options one has, so might the other...just a matter of Club preference.   Tyler Wells was one of the best Orioles pitching stories of last year.    Here's how they compare demographically:

Tyler Wells 8.26.1994

Pedigree: 15th Rd - 90K

2021 workload: 44 games / 57 innings (about 1.3 IP/game)

Minors history: 250 IP, 288/75 K/BB

Tommy John: May 2019

Garrett Whitlock 6.11.1996

Pedigree: "18th" Rd - 250K (his draft year 250K a typical 6th round bonus)

2021 workload: 46 games / 73 innings (a little more than 1.5 IP/game)

Minors history: 200 IP, 201/59 K/BB

Tommy John: July 2019

I haven't seen any indications yet, but curious to see if Elias will shoot for more of a multi-inning or single-inning role for Wells in 2022.

[Sports Guy]

No

[waroriole]

TJ surgery in 2019. Shut down in 2021 with shoulder inflammation. They’d be insane if they tried to stretch him out in a short spring. So maybe…..

[Moose Milligan]

No. He was fine last year. Just keep him where he is. 

[DrinkinWithFermi]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Leave him in the pen for now.

[Tony-OH]

When Elias drafted him in the Rule 5 draft it was because he thought he had starter's stuff. Now, could the fact that they had to shut him down due to shoulder inflammation be a reason to keep him in the pen, that's a good question. 

But, he's got a starter's repertoire so if the Orioles think he can hold up, I think they give him a shot. 

[Pickles]

I've been adamant in the past about giving "relievers" chances at starting, and certainly included Wells as a guy who should be looked at.

With the shortened spring, and the shoulder, I don't think this is the right time to try to get him into the OD rotation.

However, I would immediately see how he held up under multiple inning relief appearances, with the idea of eventually stretching him out for a starters' workload.

[Tony-OH]

So I got some information on Wells. 

It appears the plan right now is to stretch him out. 

They are loooking at him more as a long relief/piggy back type thing than a pure starter.

So the Orioles may be going to more of a piggy back approach this year with their young pitchers. 

 

 

[Pickles]

Just now, Tony-OH said:

So I got some information on Wells. 

It appears the plan right now is to stretch him out. 

They are loooking at him more as a long relief/piggy back type thing than a pure starter.

So the Orioles may be going to more of a piggy back approach this year with their young pitchers. 

 

 

Sounds like exactly what I prescribed above.  They should be paying me.

[Matt Bennett]

I don’t know the best way to go about doing so, but it absolutely needs to be in the plan that he will be stretched out. Would be incomprehensibly foolish to never allow a 4 pitch pitcher who clearly “has it” to try to succeed as a starter just because you put him in the bullpen as a Rule V draftee coming off a couple inactive years and he performed well. 

[connja]

2 hours ago, DrinkinWithFermi said:

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Leave him in the pen for now.

I know you are talking about Wells, but the rotation is most certainly broke.  I'd like to see them give him a shot there.

[Frobby]

1 hour ago, Pickles said:

Sounds like exactly what I prescribed above.  They should be paying me.

Apparently they don’t need to.

[Pickles]

Just now, Frobby said:

Apparently they don’t need to.

Lol.  Touche.

[DrinkinWithFermi]

23 minutes ago, connja said:

I know you are talking about Wells, but the rotation is most certainly broke.  I'd like to see them give him a shot there.

I would simply like to see him complete a full, healthy season before trying to triple or quadruple his workload.

[btdart20]

1 hour ago, Tony-OH said:

So I got some information on Wells. 

It appears the plan right now is to stretch him out. 

They are loooking at him more as a long relief/piggy back type thing than a pure starter.

So the Orioles may be going to more of a piggy back approach this year with their young pitchers. 

 

 

What do they mean by “piggy back”?  Like using an opener for 1-2 IP then piggy backing with Wells (and others) as a middle for 3-4 IP?