Orioles call up Wells and Wade, option Kremer

Two more pitchers have a chance to make their major league debuts with the Orioles.

The team announced today that it recalled left-hander Alexander Wells from Triple-A Norfolk and selected the contract of right-hander Konner Wade. They're in Buffalo tonight as the Orioles try to snap a 20-game road losing streak.

Knuckleballer Mickey Jannis was designated for assignment to make room for Wade on the 40-man roster. Dean Kremer has been optioned to Norfolk after last night's disastrous outing against the Blue Jays, when he retired only one batter and allowed six runs with five walks.

Wells, a 24-year-old native of Australia, could move into the rotation as Kremer's replacement or, for now, just provide length in the bullpen. Manager Brandon Hyde will speak with the media later this afternoon in a Zoom call.

Kremer is receiving another reset. He said last night that his mechanics were fine and manager Brandon Hyde said the right-hander wasn't dealing with a physical issue. But he's been optioned for a third time with a 7.25 ERA and 1.611 WHIP in 12 starts and 49 2/3 innings. He's averaging 4.3 walks per nine innings.

Well was placed on the 40-man roster in November, protecting him in the Rule 5 draft, but he missed spring training with an oblique injury and posted a 9.88 ERA and 2.20 WHIP in May. He allowed one run in 14 innings in his first three starts this month and didn't walk a batter in four.

Overall, the organization's 2017 Minor League Pitcher of the Year has gone 4-3 with a 5.63 ERA and 1.34 WHIP in eight games. He didn't pitch in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season and stayed in Australia while the Orioles held summer and fall instructional camps.

The Orioles saw Wells post a 2.95 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with Double-A Bowie in 2019. He walked 24 batters in 137 1/3 innings.

"This is a guy that flies a little bit under the radar in our system, but his minor league success has been crazy so far. He's dominated," executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias said after the Orioles put Wells on the 40-man roster.

"I think that the reason we were determined to protect him this time around is we view him as a potential starting pitcher. That's a valuable asset. And once again, this is a guy that's knocking on the door right now, so if called upon this year he could potentially come up and help the team. But ultimately we just didn't want to risk losing him. We want to keep developing Alex and we want him to sink or swim as a big leaguer here with the Orioles."

Wade, 29, has a 3.48 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in eight games, including two starts, covering 31 innings. He allowed two earned runs in 19 1/3 innings in his first four appearances.

The Orioles brought Wade back into the organization with a minor league deal in January. Former executive Dan Duquette acquired him from the Rockies in November 2017 for $500,000 in international bonus slot money and released him four months later before he could break camp.

In between his two Orioles contracts was a summer spent with the independent Sugar Land Skeeters in 2018, winter ball in Mexico, a minor league deal with the Red Sox in 2019 and a return to Sugar Land.

Jannis made his debut Wednesday at 33 and allowed seven runs and eight hits, including three homers, in 3 1/3 innings.

Eight Orioles have made their major league debuts this season. Changes to the bullpen were needed tonight with Travis Lakins Sr. and Adam Plutko unavailable after pitching last night. Jannis also couldn't be used.

Wells is wearing No. 52 and Wade No. 79.

Also, the Mets claimed catcher Chance Sisco off waivers from the Mets. The Orioles designated him for assignment on June 18 in order to get Thomas Eshelman on the 40-man roster.

The second-round pick in 2013, who can become a minor league free agent after the season, batted .154/.247/.185 in 73 plate appearances. He was 9-for-44 (.205) with three doubles, a home run, seven walks and 17 strikeouts in 52 plate appearances with Norfolk.