Orioles’ 23YO Star Snubs Franchise After Falling for $75M Rangers Ace’s Brilliance

Levi Wells might be one of the Baltimore Orioles’ rising stars, but deep down, he is a Texas guy through and through—and he is not afraid to flaunt that. At just 23 years old, he is dealing in Double-A right now and has taken a massive step forward this season.

Sure, he had a rough outing last year at the High-A Aberdeen, but now he is rocking a 3.08 ERA and looking sharper than ever. So what’s changed? Well, the credit goes to… Texas. It turns out Wells spent his off-season working out with none other than Rangers ace Nathan Eovaldi.

And well, that company seems to have paid off. Because there, Wells was simply not just throwing bullpen sessions; he was soaking up Eovaldi’s mindset, mechanics, and everything in between.

The Orioles were reportedly interested in Nathan Eovaldi last offseason. They didn’t get him, but he’s still helping the organization.

In this week’s minor league report, meet the Orioles pitcher who trained with and credits his breakout to Eovaldi. https://t.co/W3nwTamR13

— Taylor Lyons (@taylorjlyons) May 13, 2025

Wells told the Baltimore Orioles, “It was a humbling experience every day going in there.” And you can tell that he meant it. From learning how to vary the fastball velocity to perfecting the release point, he was all in. And it looks like he is simply mesmerized by Eovaldi, and why not? The $75 million star is a two-time World Series champ. From trades and surgeries to setbacks, he has been through it all.

And the fact that he even joked with Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde during spring training by saying, “Welcome to Southeast Texas,” says a lot. Orioles, meanwhile, are also impressed by Wells, and back in March, Hyde had great things to say about him. Plus, the Baysox pitching coach, Jordie Henry, went on to praise Wells. He went, “Since he was in college, he is an elite mover. If you were to draw up how a guy looked when throwing a baseball and make it look perfect, he’d be the poster child for how to throw an object. He’s really raised the floor for himself this year. His stuff is as good as anyone in minor league baseball.” Well, good for Wells, and also great that he gave credit where it was due.

For now, though Wells hasn’t texted the Rangers star, Eovaldi himself said that he is open to a conversation anytime.

Jackson Holliday can be the light of the tunnel for the Baltimore Orioles

In Baltimore, though, it’s tough to find sunshine now, and no, it’s not just the weather! The Orioles came into the season with a wave of expectations. But right now, things have gone drastically sideways. They are sitting at 15-24 and have landed in the basement of the AL East. And only three teams in the entire league have fared worse than them. It’s more ‘burned land’ than ‘birdland’ for the fans now.

The power rankings, too, are done pretending. MLB.com’s Will Leitch just dropped the O’s from 22nd to 24th, and with a tone that simply screams, “Let’s simply try to find something good to say. He wrote, “It has been extremely dark in Baltimore of late. So let’s try to focus on something positive, if possible: Jackson Holliday is starting to slowly come along.” And, well, he isn’t wrong either. Because Jackson Holliday might be the only glimmer of hope now.

Over a 15-game stretch before a hitless outing on Sunday, the rookie slashed .356/.442/.511 with two homers. This is the hit that the Orioles need, and fans are calling for him to be in the lineup every single time. The 20-year-old with his four home runs, 12 RBIs in 34 games, and 117 OPS+ does paint a picture of him being the real deal. However, saying that Orioles would need the rest of the roster to catch fire the way he has, too. Rumors of a possible trade with Twins’ Joe Ryan have come forth, but it remains to be seen. 

So do you think it’s too late for the Orioles to rescue this season, or is there still time and hope? Let us know in the comments.

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