Kip Wells
Encyclopedia
Robert "Kip" Wells is a right-handed Major League Baseball
pitcher
in the Arizona Diamondbacks
organization.
and was a baseball
star, an honor roll student, and the proud owner of a pair of Oakley sunglasses. In baseball, he won All-State and All-America
honors after his Senior year (1995). He was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers
in the 58th round of the 1995 Major League Baseball Draft
, but did not sign with the Brewers. Instead, he went to Baylor University
.
with a 5.17 ERA
and 288 strikeout
s in three collegiate seasons and was 2nd Team All-America, 1998 Big 12 1st Team, 1998 All-Region, Pre Season All America 2nd Team. He also played with the Brewster Whitecaps in the Cape Cod League during the summer of . He went 5-6 with a 1.92 ERA, 49 strikeouts and five saves to earn the league's Outstanding Pro Prospect Award.
in the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft
. He made his first major league appearance with the White Sox the following year. In his debut against the Detroit Tigers
, Wells went 5.1 innings, giving up 6 hits
, 2 runs
and 1 earned run
while walking
2 and striking out 4 for his first Major League victory
and the bullpen
, Wells was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates
.
As of the end of the season, Wells had a 55-69 record and a 4.36 ERA after 188 games over the course of seven seasons. Wells led the league in losses in 2005, going 8-18 on a Pirates team that went 72-90.
On March 1, , Wells announced he would have surgery to remove a blood clot in his right arm. The surgery was performed on March 6, and he returned to the field on June 19, 2006.
During his time with the Pirates, Wells hit a 550 foot home run
to dead center field at PNC Park
.
for Jesse Chavez
. http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/team/transactions.jsp?c_id=pit
contract with the St. Louis Cardinals
. Kip Wells was said to be the Cardinals starting pitching rotation. He struggled in the first half, going 3-11 with an ERA of 5.92 and getting demoted to the bullpen right before the All-Star break. After the All-Star Break, he was a little better, posting a 4-6 record. He made a promising start against the Florida Marlins
on July 18, when he threw eight shutout innings in a 6-0 Cardinals win. At the conclusion of the season, Wells' record was 7-17 with an ERA of 5.70.
. Wells began the season compiling a 2.29 ERA in ten games with 16 strikeouts as the primary long relief pitcher out of the bullpen. However, on April 30, Wells was placed on the disabled list
with blood clots in his pitching hand. On August 10, 2008, the Rockies designated him for assignment and was eventually released.
Triple A affiliate, the Louisville Bats
.
In August Wells was promoted to the Reds once again pitching in major league baseball. The Reds used Wells in the role of a long reliever as well as a fill-in starter.
On February 13, 2010 the Cincinnati Reds
re-signed Wells to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training.
On April 2, 2010, Wells was released by the Reds.
.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
organization.
High school career
Wells attended Elkins High School in Missouri City, TexasMissouri City, Texas
Missouri City is a city located in the U.S. state of Texas within the metropolitan area. The city is mostly in Fort Bend County with a small portion within Harris County. As of the 2000 U.S...
and was a baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
star, an honor roll student, and the proud owner of a pair of Oakley sunglasses. In baseball, he won All-State and All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
honors after his Senior year (1995). He was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in the 58th round of the 1995 Major League Baseball Draft
1995 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1995 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign-Background:Outfielder Darin Erstad of the University of Nebraska was the first pick in the 1995 Rule 4 Draft. Erstad compiled a career .356 average in three seasons with the...
, but did not sign with the Brewers. Instead, he went to Baylor University
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
.
College career
He posted a career record of 21-14 for the Baylor BearsBaylor Bears baseball
The Baylor Bears baseball team represents Baylor University in NCAA Division I college baseball. The team belongs to the Big 12 Conference and plays home games at Baylor Ballpark. The Bears are currently led by head coach Steve Smith. The 2010 season marked Steve Smith's 16th year at the rule of...
with a 5.17 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
and 288 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s in three collegiate seasons and was 2nd Team All-America, 1998 Big 12 1st Team, 1998 All-Region, Pre Season All America 2nd Team. He also played with the Brewster Whitecaps in the Cape Cod League during the summer of . He went 5-6 with a 1.92 ERA, 49 strikeouts and five saves to earn the league's Outstanding Pro Prospect Award.
Chicago White Sox
Wells was the first round (16th overall) draft pick of the Chicago White SoxChicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
in the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft
1998 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1998 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 2 and 3, 1998...
. He made his first major league appearance with the White Sox the following year. In his debut against the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
, Wells went 5.1 innings, giving up 6 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, 2 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
and 1 earned run
Earned run
In baseball, an earned run is any run for which the pitcher is held accountable . Any runner who tags his base and reaches home plate is scored against the pitcher as an earned run...
while walking
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
2 and striking out 4 for his first Major League victory
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
Pittsburgh Pirates
After the season, in which he split time between the starting rotationStarting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
and the bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
, Wells was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
.
As of the end of the season, Wells had a 55-69 record and a 4.36 ERA after 188 games over the course of seven seasons. Wells led the league in losses in 2005, going 8-18 on a Pirates team that went 72-90.
On March 1, , Wells announced he would have surgery to remove a blood clot in his right arm. The surgery was performed on March 6, and he returned to the field on June 19, 2006.
During his time with the Pirates, Wells hit a 550 foot home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
to dead center field at PNC Park
PNC Park
PNC Park is a baseball park located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is the fifth home of the Pittsburgh Pirates, the city's Major League Baseball franchise. It opened during the 2001 Major League Baseball season, after the controlled implosion of the Pirates' previous home, Three Rivers Stadium...
.
Texas Rangers
At the trade deadline in 2006, Wells was traded from the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Texas RangersTexas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
for Jesse Chavez
Jesse Chavez
Jesse David Chavez is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball. He bats and throws right-handed....
. http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/team/transactions.jsp?c_id=pit
St. Louis Cardinals
On November 28, 2006, Kip Wells signed a free agentFree agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
contract with the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. Kip Wells was said to be the Cardinals starting pitching rotation. He struggled in the first half, going 3-11 with an ERA of 5.92 and getting demoted to the bullpen right before the All-Star break. After the All-Star Break, he was a little better, posting a 4-6 record. He made a promising start against the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
on July 18, when he threw eight shutout innings in a 6-0 Cardinals win. At the conclusion of the season, Wells' record was 7-17 with an ERA of 5.70.
Colorado Rockies
On December 13, 2007, he signed with the Colorado RockiesColorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
. Wells began the season compiling a 2.29 ERA in ten games with 16 strikeouts as the primary long relief pitcher out of the bullpen. However, on April 30, Wells was placed on the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
with blood clots in his pitching hand. On August 10, 2008, the Rockies designated him for assignment and was eventually released.
Washington Nationals
On March 11, , Wells signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals. He was brought up to the majors to pitch out of the bullpen, but was ineffective, posting a 6.49 ERA in 26.1 innings before being placed on the disabled list with a right adductor strain on June 2. He was again designated for assignment on June 24.Cincinnati Reds
On July 9, 2009, Wells signed a deal with Cincinnati RedsCincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
Triple A affiliate, the Louisville Bats
Louisville Bats
The Louisville Bats, which play in Louisville, Kentucky, are the AAA minor league baseball affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. The team, formerly known as the Louisville RiverBats, plays in the International League...
.
In August Wells was promoted to the Reds once again pitching in major league baseball. The Reds used Wells in the role of a long reliever as well as a fill-in starter.
On February 13, 2010 the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
re-signed Wells to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training.
On April 2, 2010, Wells was released by the Reds.
Arizona Diamondbacks
On March 24, 2011, Wells signed a minor league deal with the Arizona DiamondbacksArizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
.