Cloverleaf grad Kenny Wells picked up by Crushers

Right-handed relief pitcher Kenny Wells' professional baseball journey is bringing him closer to home for the first time since he left to attend Seton Hill (Pa.). After being released by the Atlanta Braves organization, Wells made the decision to sign with the Lake Erie Crushers, an independent Frontier League club located in Avon. It will be the first time Wells plays a full season in Ohio since the summer after graduating from Cloverleaf in 2016. Wells said the only other time he has played near home was when Seton Hill traveled to Walsh University during his junior season in 2019. "This is going to be my first time back playing in this weather," Wells said in a phone interview Friday. "I don't know what to expect, but I'm excited to get back to my roots. It'll be nice to be close to home, and my family is the biggest thing." Wells believes playing well for the Frontier League's Crushers is his best shot at getting recognized and placed back into an MLB farm system. "I believe I can still play ball," he said. "I want to give myself the best opportunity to get signed back with another affiliate team." The Crushers finished last season with a 41-55 record to place third out of four teams in the Frontier League's Central Division. Lake Erie won its division in 2019 and the Frontier League championship in its inaugural season of 2009. Lake Erie was not the only independent team to call Wells after he was released from the Single-A Augusta GreenJackets. The Washington Wild Things (Pa.), New Jersey Jackals and Billings Mustangs (Mont.) were among those who reached out. For the 6-foot, 190-pounder, the Crushers give Wells the best chance to be comfortable. "My whole thing was, if I'm going to play indy ball, I wanted to be close to home," Wells said. "I feel like that gives me the best chance to get picked up by another team." Wells knows he needs to pitch better and match the performance of September, when he did not allow a run over 10 innings. In addition, Wells is working on strength and mechanics that he hopes will push his fastball velocity into the mid-to-upper 90s. "The biggest thing is I hope to be consistent," he said. "I hope to do my job and fill the role they give me to the best of my ability." The itch to get back to affiliated ball picks up as he watches friends and former teammates with other organizations get ready for seasons that began Thursday night. Wells and his new teammates do not report for physicals and a short spring training until April 27 before kicking off the regular season May 13 against the Trois-Rivieres Aigles from Canada. "I see all my buddies playing for affiliate clubs and I'm champing at the bit to get to the Lake Erie Crushers," Wells said. "I'm looking forward to it and I'm excited." Wells played two seasons in the Braves' farm system after the organization signed him as an undrafted free agent. He posted a 4-1 record with one save and 37 strikeouts in 31 innings for Seton Hill in 2019. Most recently, he had a 2-4 record, 7.21 ERA, two saves and 67 strikeouts over 43 2/3 innings with Augusta. In 2019, Wells had a 4.86 ERA with one save and 24 strikeouts in 16 2/3 innings for the Rookie Danville Braves before losing the 2020 season to the COVID-19 pandemic. Contact John Urchek at jurchek@medina-gazette.com.