O's game blog: Notes on Austin Hays, Alex Wells and more

Tonight's Orioles-Yankees game will not start on time. As of about 6:40 p.m. it was raining steadily at Oriole Park and the tarp is on the field. No start time was announced and we'll keep you posted when we hear any updates.

Earlier today, the Orioles announced that Single-A Delmarva lefty Alex Wells has been named their minor league Pitcher of the Year, winning the Jim Palmer Award.

The 20-year left-hander from Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia finished 11-5 with a 2.38 ERA for the Shorebirds. He led the South Atlantic League in ERA and WHIP at 0.91 and finished tied for second in wins. Wells walked just 10 batters all year and fanned 113 in 140 innings. In addition to going those last 68 innings since June 25 without a walk, he walked just two batters his last 17 starts and 98 1/3 innings. He had 17 quality starts.

At a press box press conference to discuss the honor, O's executive vice president Dan Duquette talked about Wells, his season and his remarkable control.

"Alex had an excellent year for Delmarva," Duquette said. "Outstanding control. No walks for his last 68 innings and if pitching is about throwing strikes, Alex threw more strikes than any other pitcher in our organization this year. He put it all together. He's got a very good curveball to go with that. Good intelligence, excellent instincts and we hope he has a long career with the Orioles.

"With that kind of control, throwing that many strikes and with his intelligence and his excellent curveball, he's got a chance to have a good future very quickly. He has elite control and he has an elite curveball."

Wells was thrilled to join the list of previous winners that includes Zach Britton, Dylan Bundy and the last two years it was Mychal Givens and Oliver Drake (2015 co-winners) and Donnie Hart, who won last season.

"It is definitely an honor to be along those guys. Hopefully I can have the success they are having in the big leagues," the 20-year-old Wells said.

Well was asked the obvious question - how did he develop such great control and command?

"Just preparation in between starts in the bullpen," he said. "I feel like that is where I have the most success - getting ready for games. Plus working on my throwing program and making sure I'm ready before each start.

"I've tried to have as much control as I can. Commanding both sides of the plate, in and out and I feel like this is the way I'll be known as a pitcher - just commanding the ball. I'm not going to be able to blow guys away unless I get a jump in velo (which currently tops at 91 mph per reports). So having that command is going to help me succeed."

Wells also had some praise for the help he got from Justin Lord, his pitching coach last year at short season Single-A Aberdeen and this season with the Shorebirds.

Hays to Baltimore: Double-A Bowie outfielder Austin Hays has joined the Orioles roster. That was first reported today by MASNSports.com.

The 22-year-old Hays, who is one of five finalists for Baseball America's national Player of the Year award, has had a fantastic season between Single-A Frederick and Bowie.

In 128 games, he's hit .329/.365/.593 with 32 doubles, five triples, 32 homers, 81 runs, 95 RBIs and with an OPS of .958. A third-round pick out of Jacksonville University in 2016, this is Hays' first full year in the minors.

Hays has shown the ability to hit for both average and power this year.

"I feel like I have a good combination of size and speed," he told me earlier this summer. "So I have quick hands and I can generate power with that quickness, but also I have good bat control and that kind of plays for the average side, too."

Hays is known as a high-intensity, high-energy player.

"He runs everything out," Bowie manager Gary Kendall said. "Everyone should do it, but this guy hits a popup to the infield and he's almost on second when it gets caught. That is great to see. He leaves it on the field. He provides a lot of energy to our lineup."

Said Orioles' director of player development Brian Graham: "What is special about Hays is the fact that he not only is producing on offense - hitting for average, having good ABs - but he is also a plus defender. You don't often find a guy that has plus tools as a runner, as a thrower, a defender and as a hitter with power," Graham said.

"He makes adjustments well and he's very open to suggestions," Kendall added. "He's been kind of a wrecking force for us in the middle of the lineup. But he has both a willingness and the ability to make adjustments."

Reyes gets CL honor: Frederick Keys third baseman Jomar Reyes has been named the Carolina League Player of the Week for Aug. 28-Sept. 4. It is the eighth time a Frederick player has claimed a weekly accolade this year, while it is the first time Reyes has won a weekly award as a professional.

Over seven games, Reyes, 20, batted .357/.379/.679 (10-for-28) with two homers, seven RBIs, one triple, one double and four runs scored. He finished the regular season on a nine-game hitting streak, batting .343 (12-for-35) to go with two homers and seven RBIs.

Tonight's game: After losing 7-4 Monday, the Orioles host the Yankees tonight in the second game of this series, weather permitting. The Orioles (70-68) are 1 ½ games out for the second AL wild card spot, back of Minnesota.

Right-hander Jeremy Hellickson (2-3, 6.55 ERA) is scheduled to make his seventh O's start. He allowed seven runs in 4 2/3 Thursday versus Toronto. Over his past four starts he has pitched 21 1/3 innings allowing 24 hits, 22 earned runs and eight homers.

Lefty CC Sabathia (11-5, 3.71 ERA) starts for New York. He gave up one run in six innings on Thursday against Boston. In two April starts versus the Orioles he gave up 10 runs (nine earned) over 11 2/3. In 40 career starts against the Orioles he is 19-10 with an ERA of 3.47.