SARASOTA, Fla. — Tyler Wells is used to being in limbo.
He’s never entered spring training assured that he’ll be in the starting rotation on opening day, yet he’s won a spot every camp he’s had the chance. The only time he didn’t was last year as he recovered from elbow surgery.
This time, it’s an uphill battle for Wells — on several fronts. Baltimore’s rotation, while aceless, is perhaps the best in the Mike Elias era, and the depth has pushed Wells to the outside looking in. What makes Wells’ rotation candidacy more difficult is the fact that he’s been a strong reliever when asked over the course of his Orioles career.
“Everything’s kind of on the fly right now is the best way I can put it,” Wells said. “I haven’t had much communication about it. It’s out of my control at this point. I’m really just trying to do whatever I can to prepare myself to help this team win a World Series.”
Wells isn’t alone in that pursuit. Of course, every player on every team says their goal is to win a title. But the Orioles actually believe it’s possible after an uplifting offseason that included the additions of Pete Alonso, Ryan Helsley and Chris Bassitt.
“Plain and simple, I think the big thing for me right now is to continue to focus on that,” Wells said. “Know that collectively a lot of us in here have the same mindset. Now it’s just a matter of really executing that plan.”
In 2023, Wells led the American League in WHIP in the first half and had a strong argument to be an All-Star. He ran out of gas in the second half, though, and ended the season in the bullpen, where he closed out Baltimore’s AL East-clinching victory. He was back in the rotation in 2024 as the Orioles’ No. 3 starter, but he injured his elbow and underwent surgery on his ulnar collateral ligament for the second time in his career. When he returned in 2025, around the same time as Kyle Bradish, he was back to his normal self, posting a 2.91 ERA in four starts.
A projection of the Orioles’ rotation one week into spring training, assuming good health, would likely have Wells as the No. 7 starter, which would almost certainly result in his transition into a relief role. Bradish and Trevor Rogers are the Orioles’ 1-2 punch atop the rotation, and the pair is competing for the opening day starter job. Chris Bassitt and Shane Baz are also assured spots, while Dean Kremer and Zach Eflin could end up battling for the No. 5 spot — unless Baltimore utilizes a six-man rotation.
But five weeks still remain in spring training, and Wells has been too effective of a starting pitcher to ignore. One injury to someone ahead of him could result in Wells being a starter to open the season if the Orioles opt for a six-man rotation.
Wells was one of four pitchers to throw a live bullpen session on the main field at the Ed Smith Stadium complex Tuesday. The 6-foot-8 right-hander pitched two modified innings, allowing a pair of walks and singles but overall soft contact otherwise.
“Honestly, right now, I feel really good. This is the best I’ve felt in a really long time,” Wells said. “Today it was all about just executing pitches, really trying to stay aggressive in the zone with the guys. I think that we’ve accomplished that in both live [sessions] that I’ve had down here. So overall just really happy with where I’m at.”
Challenge system practice
Bradish, Keegan Akin and Yennier Cano also pitched live bullpen sessions on the main field. The pitchers dominated the afternoon, with only a few hits by a group of hitters that included Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, Colton Cowser, Alonso, Taylor Ward, Tyler O’Neill and Heston Kjerstad.
The most entertaining part was during close ball-strike calls. A pitching coach standing behind the screen serves as the umpire for live batting practice and normally no technology is used to determine balls and strikes. But with 2026 being the first season of the ABS challenge system, the Orioles had players tap their helmets to challenge calls Tuesday if they disagreed.
Rutschman challenged two calls and was correct on both, including a high fastball against Alonso.
Bradish struck out three batters looking. Two of them, including Cowser, challenged and the coach holding an iPad that’s hooked up to the Trackman system confirmed that they were strikes.
“You can’t challenge all year now,” Bradish joked to Cowser.
Kyle Bradish strikes out Colton Cowser looking, but there was disagreement over whether it was a strike or not.
Cowser jokingly tapped his helmet. Bradish joked back, “You can’t challenge all year now.”
You be the judge. Ball or strike? pic.twitter.com/geCTgEhUqO
— Jacob Calvin Meyer (@jcalvinmeyer) February 17, 2026
Chirinos rejoins Orioles
A member of Brandon Hyde’s coaching staff is back with the Orioles.
The ballclub announced it was bringing back Robinson Chirinos, the Orioles’ bench coach last season, as a special assistant for baseball operations and player development. The club said that Chirinos will “support players, coaches, and staff across our lower levels, providing leadership, mentorship, and reinforcement of organizational philosophies.”
Chirinos, a former catcher who played 11 seasons in the big leagues, only spent one year in Baltimore as a player, but he left an imprint on Rutschman, Hyde and others in the building. When Fredi González departed after the 2024 campaign, the Orioles hired Chirinos as Hyde’s right-hand man. But after Hyde was fired in May and interim skipper Tony Mansolino wasn’t brought back following the season, Chirinos was let go to seek other opportunities.
Now, he’s back to help develop the next generation of Orioles players.
Around the horn
• Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said it’s an “ongoing conversation” among Baltimore’s brass about how to handle Cade Povich and Brandon Young this season. The young starters aren’t expected to make the Orioles’ rotation, so the club has to decide whether to put them in the bullpen or, more likely, have them keep developing in Triple-A. “They’re getting built up as starters, and that’s what we want them to focus on at this point in camp. And who knows as camp goes on?” Albernaz said.
• Albernaz didn’t rule out the Orioles having a roster with three catchers on it, but he said that it’s too early to speculate. He quipped, “I’m a catching guy. Maybe we’ll have six catchers on the roster.”
• One day after owner David Rubenstein watched practice at spring training, Cal Ripken Jr. did the same. Ripken, a member of Rubenstein’s ownership group, watched live batting practice and appeared to be coaching up Henderson after infield practice.
• The Mid-Atlantic Sports Network is making a minor change to its spring broadcast schedule. The network will broadcast the March 13 game against the Philadelphia Phillies at 1 p.m. in Clearwater instead of the March 9 contest versus the St. Louis Cardinals in Jupiter.
Have a news tip? Contact Jacob Calvin Meyer at jameyer@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/JCalvinMeyer.
