Tyler Wells is moving from Double-A Bowie to Triple-A Norfolk, where he’ll pitch in relief Wednesday night in a new twist to his injury rehab assignment that reverts back to his past.
Wells made three starts with the Baysox and allowed three runs in 8 2/3 innings. The Orioles restricted him to two innings and 27 pitches on Saturday as part of their plan.
“We’re going to shorten his outings a little bit, just have him throw less pitches and less innings and kind of see how that goes,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “But we’re really encouraged by giving him some rest, giving him some time off. He’s throwing the ball much better here as of late, so we’re going to put him in Norfolk.
“Different ball, more like the major league baseball, and put him in the bullpen there and then see how that goes.”
Wells was a Rule 5 reliever in 2021 before the Orioles converted him back to starter the following spring. They’re using a six-man rotation and can more easily control Wells’ innings in the bullpen after he threw 113 2/3 this season, 10 more than last year.