Baltimore Orioles Select Levi Wells in The 2023 MLB Draft

By David Castaneda

Sports Reporter

Texas State Sophomore pitcher Levi Wells becomes the highest-drafted Bobcat in over a decade after being selected on Sunday as the Orioles 4^th round pick (118) of the 2023 MLB draft.

Following a season with three shutout performances, 98 K’s and over 80 innings pitched, Wells established himself as one the best prospects to pitch at Texas State in a very long time.

Wells will begin his career for the Baltimore Orioles. He appeared in 14 games in the 2023 season where he went 6+ IP in all but five games. The Baltimore Orioles have lacked starting pitching for a long time, so it was very likely that they were eyeing another arm for their bullpen.

Baltimore scouts have received very high praise in recent seasons after discovering talents such as Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson and Felix Bautista. They also hold Jackson Holliday who is currently ranked the number 1 prospect according to MLB.com.

Wells, the former Texas Tech Red Raider, spent two seasons with the Bobcats and hosted a career 3.98 ERA in 171.2 innings pitched with 184 K’s.

His best season came in 2021 when he was part of a historic Texas State run to the NCAA Stanford Regional. During this season Wells led their pitching staff with a 3.07 ERA and most notably went down as the winning pitcher on the famed win victory versus UT on March 9.

Some notable career accolades for Wells include.

–        2022 All-Sun Belt Conference First Team (SP)

–        2022 Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Week (Apr. 5, May 10)

–        2023 All-Sun Belt Conference Second Team (SP)

–        2023 D1Baseball Preseason All-America Third Team