Kip Wells

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Kip Wells

| image = KipWells.jpg

| caption = Wells with the Washington Nationals in 2009

| position = Pitcher

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1977|4|21}}

| birth_place = Houston, Texas, U.S.

| bats = Right

| throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = August 2

| debutyear = 1999

| debutteam = Chicago White Sox

|finalleague = MLB

| finaldate = August 1

| finalyear= 2012

| finalteam= San Diego Padres

|statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Win–loss record

| stat1value = 69–103

| stat2label = Earned run average

| stat2value = 4.71

| stat3label = Strikeouts

| stat3value = 963

| teams =

Chicago White Sox ({{mlby|1999}}–{{mlby|2001}})
Pittsburgh Pirates ({{mlby|2002}}–{{mlby|2006}})
Texas Rangers ({{mlby|2006}})
St. Louis Cardinals ({{mlby|2007}})
Colorado Rockies ({{mlby|2008}})
Kansas City Royals ({{mlby|2008}})
Washington Nationals ({{mlby|2009}})
Cincinnati Reds ({{mlby|2009}})
San Diego Padres ({{mlby|2012}})

}}

Robert "Kip" Wells (born April 21, 1977) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. In his Major League Baseball (MLB) career, he played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Texas Rangers, St. Louis Cardinals, Colorado Rockies, Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Royals, Washington Nationals, Cincinnati Reds, and San Diego Padres between 1999 and 2012.

Amateur career

Wells attended Elkins High School in Missouri City, Texas, and played for the baseball team and was an honor roll student. In baseball, he won All-State and All-America honors after his Senior year (1995).{{Cite web|url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/sbusa5.htm|title=All-USA high school baseball (June 21, 1995)|website=Usatoday30.usatoday.com|access-date=24 November 2021}} 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.

Wells attended Baylor University. He posted a career win–loss record of 21-14 for the Baylor Bears with a 5.17 earned run average (ERA) and 288 strikeouts in three collegiate seasons and was {{Baseball year|1998}} 2nd Team All-America, 1998 Big 12 1st Team, 1998 All-Region, {{Baseball year|1999}} Pre Season All America 2nd Team. He also played with the Brewster Whitecaps in the Cape Cod League during the summer of {{Baseball year|1997}}, posting a 5–6 record with a 1.92 ERA, 49 strikeouts and five saves to earn the league's Outstanding Pro Prospect Award.{{Cite web|url=http://www.brewsterwhitecaps.com/majors.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928060354/http://www.brewsterwhitecaps.com/majors.htm|url-status=dead|title=Brewster Whitecaps|archive-date=28 September 2007|access-date=24 November 2021}}

Professional career

=Chicago White Sox=

Wells was the first round (16th overall) draft pick of the Chicago White Sox 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{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/DET/DET199908020.shtml|title=Chicago White Sox at Detroit Tigers Box Score, August 2, 1999|website=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=24 November 2021}}

=Pittsburgh Pirates=

After the {{mlby|2001}} season, in which he split time between the starting rotation and the bullpen, Wells was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

As of the end of the {{mlby|2005}} 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 67–95.

On March 1, {{mlby|2006}}, Wells announced he would have surgery to remove a blood clot in his right arm.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2345257|title=Pirates' Wells leaves camp to see blood clot specialist|date=26 February 2006|website=ESPN.com|access-date=24 November 2021}} The surgery was performed on March 6, and he returned to the field on June 19, 2006.

=Texas Rangers=

At the trade deadline in 2006, Wells was traded from the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Jesse Chavez.{{Cite web | url=http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/team/transactions.jsp?c_id=pit | title=Transactions | website=Pittsburgh-pirates.mlb.com | access-date=2006-08-01 | archive-date=2006-08-06 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060806011444/http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/team/transactions.jsp?c_id=pit | url-status=dead }}

=St. Louis Cardinals=

File:Kip Wells.jpg in {{Baseball year|2007}}.]]

On November 28, 2006, Kip Wells signed a free agent 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/FLO/FLO200707180.shtml|title=St. Louis Cardinals at Florida Marlins Box Score, July 18, 2007|website=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=24 November 2021}} At the conclusion of the {{mlby|2007}} season, Wells' record was 7–17 with an ERA of 5.70.

=Colorado Rockies=

On December 13, 2007, Wells signed with the Colorado Rockies. Slated to be a long reliever for the team, he wound up making the start for the Rockies on Opening Day. Jeff Francis was supposed to get the start, but the Rockies' first game was rained out, and manager Clint Hurdle opted to start Wells to keep the rotation on normal rest.{{cite web|last=Renck|first=Troy E.|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2008/03/31/rox-opener-rained-out/|title=Rox opener rained out|work=The Denver Post|date=March 31, 2008|access-date=February 28, 2020}} Wells began the {{mlby|2008}} 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.

=Kansas City Royals=

Wells signed with the Kansas City Royals on August 18, 2008.{{Cite web|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2008-08-19-756687906_x.htm|title=Royals sign pitcher Kip Wells|website=Usatoday30.usatoday.com|access-date=24 November 2021}}

=Washington Nationals=

On March 11, {{Baseball year|2009}}, Wells signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals.[http://washingtontimes.com/weblogs/chatter/2009/Mar/11/nats-sign-kip-wells/ Nats sign Kip Wells] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606161105/http://www.washingtontimes.com/weblogs/chatter/2009/Mar/11/nats-sign-kip-wells/ |date=2011-06-06 }} He was brought up to the majors to pitch out of the bullpen, but was ineffective, posting a 6.49 ERA in {{fraction|26|1|3}} innings before being placed on the disabled list with a right adductor strain on June 2. Wells was again designated for assignment on June 24.

=Cincinnati Reds=

On July 9, 2009, Wells signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds, and was assigned to their Triple-A affiliate, the Louisville Bats.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/milb|title=The Official Site of Minor League Baseball|website=Minor League Baseball|access-date=24 November 2021}} In August, Wells was recalled to Cincinnati's major league roster. The Reds used Wells in the role of a long reliever as well as a fill-in starter.

File:Mike Gonzalez Kip Wells.jpg in 2009.]]

On February 13, 2010, the Cincinnati Reds re-signed Wells to a minor league contract that included an invitation to spring training.{{Cite web|url=https://blogredmachine.com/2010/02/13/kip-wells-re-signed/|title=Kip Wells Re-signed|website=Blogredmachine.com|date=13 February 2010 |access-date=24 November 2021}} He was released by the Reds organization on April 2.

=Long Island Ducks=

On July 14, 2010, Wells signed with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.{{cite web |url=http://www.atlanticleague.com/cgi-bin/dist/news.cgi?id=1279051174 |title=The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball |access-date=2010-07-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100719214156/http://www.atlanticleague.com/cgi-bin/dist/news.cgi?id=1279051174 |archive-date=2010-07-19 }} In 5 starts for the team, he posted a 2-2 record and 4.00 ERA with 23 strikeouts across 27 innings pitched.

On March 24, 2011, Wells signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks.{{Cite web | url=http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/03/24/the-diamondbacks-sign-kip-wells/ |title = The Diamondbacks sign Kip Wells|website=Hardballtalk.nbcsports.com|date = 2011-03-24}} However, he never appeared in a game for the organization.

Wells hired Burton Rocks as his agent and on April 6, 2012, Wells agreed to a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox, but subsequently agreed to a mutual release on April 16.{{Cite web |url=http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120406&content_id=28011608¬ebook_id=28013914&vkey=notebook_cws&c_id=cws%2F |title=Wells signs Minor League contract with White Sox |access-date=2020-02-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103182938/http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120406&content_id=28011608¬ebook_id=28013914&vkey=notebook_cws&c_id=cws%2F |archive-date=2013-11-03 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/|title=Chicago Tribune: Chicago news, sports, weather, entertainment|website=Chicagotribune.com|access-date=24 November 2021}}[http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/writer/jon-heyman/18346902/kip-wells-remember-him-is-back-with-white-sox-on-a-minorleague-deal] (April 6, 2012)

=San Diego Padres=

On May 8, 2012, Wells agreed to a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres.{{cite web|last=Axisa|first=Mike|title=Padres Sign Kip Wells, Anthony Reyes|url=http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/05/padres-sign-kip-wells-anthony-reyes.html|website=Mlbtraderumors.com|access-date=22 June 2012}}

Wells had his contract purchased by the Padres on June 25. The next day, Wells started his first major league game since 2009 against the Houston Astros.{{cite web|last=Yellon|first=Al|title=Kip Wells Starting For Padres Tuesday|url=http://mlb.sbnation.com/2012/6/25/3116425/kip-wells-padres-starter-tuesday|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130202111845/http://mlb.sbnation.com/2012/6/25/3116425/kip-wells-padres-starter-tuesday|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 2, 2013|work=Baseball Nation|access-date=27 June 2012}} On August 3, the Padres designated Wells for assignment. Wells accepted an outright assignment to the Triple-A Tucson Padres after clearing waivers. Wells posted a 2–4 record and a 4.58 ERA with 19 strikeouts in 7 starts for the Padres. The highlight of his time with the Padres was his seven shutout innings in a start in Coors Field, but his 0.95 strikeout-to-walk ratio and 1.4 home runs per nine innings hurt his overall results.{{cite news|last=Jenkins|first=Chris|title=Wells designated for assignment|url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/aug/03/wells-designated-assignment/|newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune|date=August 3, 2012|access-date=6 August 2012}}

=Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim=

On April 13, 2013, Wells agreed to a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.{{Cite web | url=https://www.espn.com/los-angeles/mlb/story/_/id/9167313/kip-wells-agrees-los-angeles-angels |title = Pitching-starved Angels agree with Kip Wells|website=Espn.go.com|date = 2013-04-13}} Wells was released after six starts for the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees.

On November 10, 2013, Wells announced his retirement from professional baseball at the age of 36.{{Cite web | url=http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/11/10/kip-wells-retires-from-baseball-at-36/ |title = Kip Wells retires from baseball at age 36|website=Hardballtalk.nbcsports.com|date = 2013-11-10}}

Coaching career

File:KipWellsQuakes.jpg

In 2016, Wells was named the pitching coach for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, the Los Angeles Dodgers' Single-A affiliate in the California League.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-161942882|title=Coaching Staff Set for 2016|work=Minor League Baseball|first=Mike|last=Lindskog|date=January 14, 2016|access-date=January 14, 2016}} He left his position with the Dodgers organization after the 2017 season.