KIA was also in a tight spot. Perfect up to 150km + 38 pitches, how was Australia's MVP debut…4K and 1 run in 3 innings
Jun 25, 2025
|
Wells started against the Gocheok KIA Tigers on the 25th and recorded 53 pitches, 3 hits, 4 strikeouts, and 1 run in 3 innings. He mixed 28 fastballs with 14 changeups, six sliders, and five curves. The maximum fastball speed came out to 150km, and the average speed was formed at 146km.
Kiwoom recruited left-hander Wells for an annual salary of $30,000 (about 40 million won) as a short-term alternative foreign player on the 11th. Existing foreign ace Kenny Rosenberg left due to a left hip injury, and the degree of injury was quite serious, forcing him to identify a substitute.
The club quickly contacted Wells, who had been in mind as a candidate in consideration of the Asian quarter introduced by KBO next season. Wells had a four-month hiatus after the Australian League, but he held on to his golden opportunity to play in Korea.
Wells played as a starting pitcher for the Adelaide Giants in the Australian League in the 2024-2025 season with a 5-1 record and a 3.17 ERA. In the 2023-204 season, he won the Australian League MVP award. The Australian League has 34 games, 13 wins and 3 losses, and a 2.91 ERA in six seasons.
He also played in the U.S. Minor League. Wells signed with the Minnesota Twins and a minor league team under the Philadelphia Phillies, where he played five seasons. His career performance is 66 games, 23 wins and 27 losses, and a 3.14 ERA. There was no chance to play in the Major League.
Before the game, Kiwoom manager Hong Won-ki said "First of all, I haven't been able to increase the number of pitches in the bullpen right now. The maximum number of pitches today is up to 50. I'm watching the inning until the third inning, but I'll judge by looking at the flow of the first or second innings."
Wells overwhelmed KIA's batters with good momentum in June. In the top of the first inning, the leadoff hitter Lee Chang-jin took the first step by treating him with a fly ball to shortstop after a full count fight to eight pitches. Park Chan-ho struck out swinging with a 149km/h fastball at the ball count of 1B2S, and threw a changeup to Wisdom to induce a ground ball to third base.
|
|
Wells' Perfect March was broken at the beginning of the third. He struck out Kim Ho-ryeong and caught Kim Tae-gun with a fly ball to center field, recording eight consecutive hitters. He had 38 pitches so far. Two outs later, Park hit a double that separated the right-center field. Park Min did not miss the fastball that was almost thrown into the middle of the zone to catch the strike with Wells' ball count of 2B0S. The next batter, Lee Chang-jin, is the same. At the ball count of 2B0S, he hit a fastball that came into the middle of the strike zone for the third pitch and recorded a timely hit in the middle of the month. The score is 0-1.
Wells, who gave up the first run, shook sharply. The limit of 50 pitches mentioned by head coach Hong was imminent, and KIA hitters struggled as soon as the batting order turned around and found a way to respond. KIA hitters put up with Wells' breaking ball and pushed Wells to the ground while thoroughly aiming for a fastball.
With two outs and a runner on second base, Park Chan-ho was sent out on a left infield hit at third base. Third baseman Song Sung-moon watched a slow ball flowing along the foul line, but he didn't go out of the line in the end. Wells struck out Wizdom with four straight fastballs after both changeups became balls in the final game.
Wells, who finished his mission, was replaced by Kim Sun-ki ahead of the defense in the top of the fourth inning.
|
|
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
