Nick Wells Stats & Scouting Report

IP	579.0
ERA	4.99
WHIP	1.499
BB/9	3.8
SO/9	7.7

Full name Nicholas David Wells
Born 02/21/1996 in Alexandria, VA
Profile Ht.: 6'5" / Wt.: 185 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School Battlefield
Drafted in the 3rd round (83rd overall) by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2014 (signed for $661,800).

View Draft Report

In a banner year for high school pitching in Virginia, Wells is the headlining lefthander. And while many of the other Virginia prep arms are on the smaller side, Wells has a large frame and lean, projectable build at 6-foot-5, 180 pounds. After showing mid-80s velocity and touching 89 mph last fall, he has been consistently around 87-91 mph this spring, touching 93. From a drop and drive delivery, he has a quick arm and the ball jumps out of his hand. His curveball shows plus potential and he can vary the shape of the offering. He rarely uses his changeup. He's athletic and throws enough strikes to project him to have average control. Wells will likely be in play in the top three to four rounds.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Wells' projectable stuff and body encouraged the Blue Jays enough to take him in the third round of the 2014 draft, and the Mariners acquired him just more than a year later, sending Mark Lowe to Toronto for Wells and two others. The Virginia native has some present ability but is still more of a project than he is a prospect. He pitches mostly in the upper 80s, but can reach as high as 93 mph. His long curveball is his bread and butter, a potential above-average pitch with vertical shape and mid-70s velocity. He also throws a more slurvy breaking ball in the low 80s, and he mixes his breaking pitches well to keep hitters guessing. Wells' changeup also has potential, and some scouts project it as an average pitch. He has control of his arsenal, and while nothing about him is explosive, the sum of his parts makes him a true starting pitching prospect, though toward the back of a rotation. He's a candidate to jump to full-season ball in 2016.
Long, lean and lanky, Wells has a large frame that scouts can dream on, and he took off in the spring of his senior season when his fastball sat at 87-91 mph and touched 93 with glove-side run. Signed for $661,800 as a third-round pick, Wells could see his velocity increase given his projectable, wideshouldered build and arm speed. His top secondary offering is a big-breaking curveball that shows plus potential. He rarely needed his changeup in high school, so it is a work in progress. The Blue Jays have considered adding a slider to his repertoire. Wells is loose and athletic with natural feel for throwing strikes, projecting for at least average control. Toronto has altered Wells' delivery since signing, seeking to generate steeper plane. He'll likely open at Rookie-level Bluefield following extended spring training.

Draft Prospects

In a banner year for high school pitching in Virginia, Wells is the headlining lefthander. And while many of the other Virginia prep arms are on the smaller side, Wells has a large frame and lean, projectable build at 6-foot-5, 180 pounds. After showing mid-80s velocity and touching 89 mph last fall, he has been consistently around 87-91 mph this spring, touching 93. From a drop and drive delivery, he has a quick arm and the ball jumps out of his hand. His curveball shows plus potential and he can vary the shape of the offering. He rarely uses his changeup. He's athletic and throws enough strikes to project him to have average control. Wells will likely be in play in the top three to four rounds.

Minor League Top Prospects

The Blue Jays selected the 6-foot-5 Wells in the third round of the 2014 draft, started his development and then traded him to the Mariners in a deal for Mark Lowe in July. He showed an intriguing four-pitch mix at Bluefield prior to the trade, then joined short-season Everett in the Northwest League once he joined Seattle. While Wells reached as high as 93 mph, he mostly pitched at 88-90 and showed cut with his fastball at times. He throws downhill and gets deep plane on his fastball, making it a difficult pitch to square up. Because of this he can pitch to contact. Wells throws two breaking pitches: a low-70s curveball with variable depth and a slurvy, low-80s breaker. The Blue Jays had him focused on developing his changeup, and the pitch earned average grades from multiple evaluators who saw him in the Appy League. Wells could develop into a sound back-of-the-rotation starter given the breadth of his stuff and understanding of how to use it.

Career Transactions

Toros de Tijuana activated LHP Nick Wells from the reserve list.
Toros de Tijuana signed free agent LHP Nick Wells.
LHP Nick Wells assigned to Aguilas Cibaenas.
Aguilas Cibaenas activated LHP Nick Wells.
Aguilas Cibaenas activated LHP Nick Wells.
Gastonia Honey Hunters signed free agent LHP Nick Wells.
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs activated LHP Nick Wells from the 7-day injured list.
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs activated LHP Nick Wells from the 7-day injured list.
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs placed LHP Nick Wells on the 7-day injured list.
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs placed LHP Nick Wells on the 7-day injured list retroactive to August 25, 2022.
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs signed LHP Nick Wells.
Rochester Red Wings released LHP Nick Wells.
LHP Nick Wells assigned to Rochester Red Wings.
Washington Nationals signed free agent LHP Nick Wells to a minor league contract.
LHP Nick Wells elected free agency.
Rochester Red Wings activated LHP Nick Wells from the 7-day injured list.
Rochester Red Wings placed LHP Nick Wells on the 7-day injured list.
Rochester Red Wings placed LHP Nick Wells on the 7-day injured list.
LHP Nick Wells assigned to Rochester Red Wings from Harrisburg Senators.
LHP Nick Wells assigned to Harrisburg Senators from Rochester Red Wings.
LHP Nick Wells assigned to Rochester Red Wings from Harrisburg Senators.
LHP Nick Wells assigned to Harrisburg Senators.
LHP Nick Wells assigned to Harrisburg Senators from Fredericksburg Nationals.
Nationals Organization activated LHP Nick Wells. ABS test.
LHP Nick Wells assigned to Fresno Grizzlies from Nationals Alternate Training Site.
LHP Nick Wells assigned to Nationals Alternate Training Site from Fredericksburg Nationals.
Washington Nationals invited non-roster LHP Nick Wells to spring training.
LHP Nick Wells assigned to Potomac Nationals from Fresno Grizzlies.
LHP Nick Wells assigned to Fresno Grizzlies from Hagerstown Suns.
LHP Nick Wells assigned to Hagerstown Suns.
Washington Nationals traded RHP Austin Adams to Seattle Mariners for cash and LHP Nick Wells.
Modesto Nuts placed LHP Nick Wells on the 7-day injured list.
LHP Nick Wells assigned to Modesto Nuts from Clinton LumberKings.
LHP Nick Wells assigned to Seattle Mariners.
Clinton LumberKings activated LHP Nick Wells from the 7-day disabled list.
Clinton LumberKings placed LHP Nick Wells on the 7-day disabled list.
Clinton LumberKings activated LHP Nick Wells from the 7-day disabled list.
Clinton LumberKings sent LHP Nick Wells on a rehab assignment to AZL Mariners.
Clinton LumberKings placed LHP Nick Wells on the 7-day disabled list retroactive to June 17, 2016.
LHP Nick Wells assigned to Clinton LumberKings from Everett AquaSox.
Seattle Mariners traded RHP Mark Lowe to Toronto Blue Jays for LHP Rob Rasmussen, LHP Jake Brentz and LHP Nick Wells.
LHP Nick Wells assigned to Everett AquaSox.
LHP Nick Wells assigned to Bluefield Blue Jays from GCL Blue Jays.
LHP Nick Wells assigned to GCL Blue Jays.
Toronto Blue Jays signed Nick Wells.