.gif)
Vernon Wells (baseball player)
Encyclopedia
Vernon M. Wells III is a Major League Baseball
player for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
. Wells has appeared on three All-Star
teams in his career, been awarded three Gold Glove Award
s, and one Silver Slugger Award. He is second all time for the Toronto Blue Jays
in career hits, homeruns, doubles, runs, RBI and total bases.
to a father who played CFL
football, and grew up in Arlington, Texas
, where his family moved in 1988. In 1993, Wells entered Arlington's Bowie High School
where he played quarterback on the football team and was an outfielder
on the baseball team. In his senior year, he batted
.565 with 7 home run
s and 20 RBI
. Before entering the Major League Baseball Draft, Wells signed a letter of intent to attend the University of Texas at Austin
to play baseball and football (as a wide receiver).
made Wells round one's fifth pick in the 1997
amateur draft. He spent several years as a top prospect in the Blue Jays organization, starting with the St. Catharines Stompers, Toronto’s Class-A team in the short-season New York – Penn League. In 1999 he played in the Australian Baseball League with the Sydney Storm
. From 1999 through 2001, Wells was a regular September call-up and played in 57 games.
, Wells was given his first chance to be an every-day player. Although disqualified from Rookie of the Year
contention because he had exceeded the 130 career major league at-bat limit to qualify as a rookie (the award went to teammate Eric Hinske
), Wells proved himself to be one of the game's rising stars. He batted
.275 with 23 home run
s, 100 RBI and 87 runs while becoming one of the best defensive center fielders in the game.
In 2003
, Wells' finished the season with a .317 batting average, 33 home runs, 117 RBI and 118 runs. He led the league with 215 hits, 49 doubles, and 373 total bases
and finished 8th in American League
MVP voting
. He also participated in his first All-Star game
. He won the AL co-player of the week for the first time on June 23, 2003, sharing the honor with Corey Koskie
. Wells won his first Gold Glove Award
in 2004
, and a second in 2005
.
Wells began the 2006
season on a torrid pace, and continued to hit well throughout the year, ending the season with a .303 batting average, 32 home runs, and 106 runs batted in. Wells' year was capped by a game against the Boston Red Sox
in which he hit 3 home runs, with two coming off of Red Sox starter Josh Beckett
. He won the AL player of the week honor on July 24.
Wells was selected as a reserve outfielder on the American League All-Star Team
and was promoted to the League's starting lineup after an injury to Boston's Manny Ramírez
. It was his second appearance in the mid-summer classic.
During the season, Blue Jays
general manager J.P. Ricciardi
criticized Wells, as well as teammates Troy Glaus
and Shea Hillenbrand
, for failure to perform during key situations after two losses to the Kansas City Royals
just before the 2006 All-Star break. He followed such criticisms with great play throughout the rest of the year, including a walk-off home run
against New York Yankees
closer
Mariano Rivera
. On September 24, he recorded his 500th RBI in a game against the Boston Red Sox.
At the end of the 2006 season, Wells was awarded his 3rd straight Gold Glove Award
for his outfield defense, along with Torii Hunter
, and Ichiro Suzuki
. He also signed a back-loaded contract for $126 million over seven years, which was criticized in the media.
of all major league center fielders, 2.29. He suffered a shoulder injury early in the 2007 season and had shoulder surgery in September. . 2007 was certainly Wells' worst full year in the majors as he finished with a .245 average and only 16 home runs, despite hitting 80 RBIs.
On May 8, 2008 Wells suffered a broken left wrist while making a diving catch. He returned on June 7, but later strained his left hamstring on July 9 and missed over a month of the season. Despite the significant amount time missed to injury, 2008 otherwise represented a return to form for Wells as he finished the year hitting .300 with 20 home runs and 78 RBIs in just 108 games.
During spring training in 2009, Wells suffered another injury, a strained left hamstring which kept him out for several weeks. At the beginning of the season Wells batted fourth in the lineup and was playing everyday center field. He struggled with consistency at the plate, and was subsequently dropped from the 4th spot in the lineup before the all-star break. Though he stole 17 bases, Wells finished the year with some of his worst numbers in his career by hitting .260 with only 15 home runs and 66 RBI and again finished with an OPS near the .700 mark. During the season, he received significant amount of criticism from the press regarding his large contract.
Wells began 2010 on a promising start, hitting 4 home runs and 8 RBI in the first series. He continued to play and hit well and had a strong start by hitting .337 with 8 home runs and 16 RBI in April. On April 7, he also had his first multi-home run game against the Rangers the first time he had done that since September 28, 2008. On June 27, Wells hit a two-run home run that made Jamie Moyer
of the Philadelphia Phillies
, Major League Baseball's all time most home runs allowed leader with 506. On July 5, 2010 Wells was named a reserve for the 2010 MLB All-Star Game, along with José Bautista, and John Buck from the Toronto Blue Jays
. Wells was also a participant in the Home Run Derby
, where Chris Berman predicted that Wells, whom he nicknamed the "Canadian Breeze," would carry away the title. Wells ended up hitting two home runs in the first round.
On September 24, 2010 Wells hit his 30th home run of the season. That home run made Wells only the fourth player in Toronto Blue Jays
history to have three or more seasons with at least 30 home runs, joining Carlos Delgado
, Joe Carter
and Fred McGriff
. At the end of the season, Wells had 31 home runs, 88 RBI, and an .847 OPS, making the 2010 season his best since he signed his contract extension in 2006. He finished the year batting .273, with 161 hits in 590 at bats, giving him over 1,500 hits in his career.
Also in 2010, Wells was selected to receive the 2010 Branch Rickey Award
for humanitarian works by the Rotary Club of Denver. He is the second member of the Toronto Blue Jays
to receive this honor: Dave Winfield
was the 1992 recipient. The award was presented on November 13, 2010 and Wells was then inducted into the Baseball Humanitarians Hall of Fame.
, in exchange for catcher Mike Napoli
and outfielder Juan Rivera. Wells started out the season in a horrible fashion, hitting below the Mendoza Line
through the first month-and-a-half of the 2011 season. At the All Star break, his batting average improved to .222. Wells "heated up" during the months of June and July, hitting 11 home runs combined in those months, after hitting only four in the previous two. In his first game back in Toronto on August 12, Wells received a standing ovation before his first at bat, he followed that up by taking the first pitch of the at bat thrown by Brandon Morrow
over the left-center field fence. In 2011, he batted .218, the lowest batting average of all major league ballplayers with 512 or more plate appearances, and also had the lowest on base percentage (.248).
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
. Wells has appeared on three All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
teams in his career, been awarded three Gold Glove Award
Gold Glove Award
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
s, and one Silver Slugger Award. He is second all time for the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
in career hits, homeruns, doubles, runs, RBI and total bases.
Early years
Wells was born in Shreveport, LouisianaShreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
to a father who played CFL
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
football, and grew up in Arlington, Texas
Arlington, Texas
Arlington is a city in Tarrant County, Texas within the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. According to the 2010 census results, the city had a population of 365,438, making it the third largest municipality in the Metroplex...
, where his family moved in 1988. In 1993, Wells entered Arlington's Bowie High School
Bowie High School (Arlington, Texas)
James Bowie High School is a secondary school in Arlington, Texas. The school is a part of Arlington Independent School District and serves students in grades 9 through 12 in southeast Arlington and southwest Grand Prairie...
where he played quarterback on the football team and was an outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
on the baseball team. In his senior year, he batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.565 with 7 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 20 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
. Before entering the Major League Baseball Draft, Wells signed a letter of intent to attend the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
to play baseball and football (as a wide receiver).
Early career
The Toronto Blue JaysToronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
made Wells round one's fifth pick in the 1997
1997 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Florida Marlins over Cleveland Indians ; Liván Hernández, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Marquis Grissom**American League Division Series*National League Championship Series MVP: Liván Hernández...
amateur draft. He spent several years as a top prospect in the Blue Jays organization, starting with the St. Catharines Stompers, Toronto’s Class-A team in the short-season New York – Penn League. In 1999 he played in the Australian Baseball League with the Sydney Storm
Sydney Storm
The Sydney Storm, originally Sydney Blues were a team in the now defunct Australian Baseball League. The franchise won one ABL championship under the former name, defeating the Melbourne Reds in the 1995 championship, also finishing runner-up twice - once against the Brisbane Bandits in 1994, and...
. From 1999 through 2001, Wells was a regular September call-up and played in 57 games.
2002–2006
In 20022002 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*Regular Season Champions*World Series Champion - Anaheim Angels*Postseason - October 1 to October 27Click on any series score to link to that series' page....
, Wells was given his first chance to be an every-day player. Although disqualified from Rookie of the Year
MLB Rookie of the Year Award
In Major League Baseball, the Rookie of the Year Award is annually given to one player from each league as voted on by the Baseball Writers Association of America . The award was established in 1940 by the Chicago chapter of the BBWAA, which selected an annual winner from 1940 through 1946...
contention because he had exceeded the 130 career major league at-bat limit to qualify as a rookie (the award went to teammate Eric Hinske
Eric Hinske
Eric Scott Hinske is a Major League Baseball outfielder, first baseman, and third baseman currently an Atlanta Braves organization...
), Wells proved himself to be one of the game's rising stars. He batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.275 with 23 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s, 100 RBI and 87 runs while becoming one of the best defensive center fielders in the game.
In 2003
2003 in baseball
-Headline event of the year:*The Florida Marlins become World Series champions, holding off a dynastic New York Yankees team, 4 games to 2.-Major League Baseball:*Regular Season Champions*World Series Champion - Florida Marlins...
, Wells' finished the season with a .317 batting average, 33 home runs, 117 RBI and 118 runs. He led the league with 215 hits, 49 doubles, and 373 total bases
Total bases
In baseball statistics, total bases refers to the number of bases a player has gained with hits, i.e., the sum of his hits weighted by 1 for a single, 2 for a double, 3 for a triple and 4 for a home run.Only bases attained from hits count toward this total....
and finished 8th in American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
MVP voting
MLB Most Valuable Player Award
The Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award is an annual Major League Baseball award, given to one outstanding player in the American League and one in the National League. Since 1931, it has been awarded by the Baseball Writers Association of America...
. He also participated in his first All-Star game
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
. He won the AL co-player of the week for the first time on June 23, 2003, sharing the honor with Corey Koskie
Corey Koskie
Cordel Leonard "Corey" Koskie is a former Major League Baseball third baseman. He batted left-handed and threw right-handed.-Baseball career:...
. Wells won his first Gold Glove Award
Gold Glove Award
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
in 2004
2004 in baseball
-Headline events of the year:*The Boston Red Sox win their first World Series since , ending the Curse of the Bambino.*With 262 hits, Ichiro Suzuki of the Mariners breaks George Sisler's record of 257. Suzuki also sets the record for most singles in a season, with 225.*2004 also marked the final...
, and a second in 2005
2005 in baseball
-Headline events of the year:*Chicago White Sox swept the Houston Astros to win the 2005 World Series.*2005 also marked the inaugural season of the Washington Nationals, who relocated from Montreal and were formerly known as the Expos....
.
Wells began the 2006
2006 in baseball
-Headline Event of the Year:*The 2006 World Baseball Classic final 4 teams are Japan, Cuba, Korea and the Dominican Republic, with the United States at 3–3 failing to qualify for the semi-finals. Under the leadership of manager Sadaharu Oh and veterans Ichiro Suzuki and Daisuke Matsuzaka, Japan ...
season on a torrid pace, and continued to hit well throughout the year, ending the season with a .303 batting average, 32 home runs, and 106 runs batted in. Wells' year was capped by a game against the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
in which he hit 3 home runs, with two coming off of Red Sox starter Josh Beckett
Josh Beckett
Joshua Patrick Beckett is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball. During his career in the playoffs, he won the 2003 World Series MVP Award with the Florida Marlins, and received the 2007 ALCS MVP award with the Red Sox.-Florida Marlins :A...
. He won the AL player of the week honor on July 24.
Wells was selected as a reserve outfielder on the American League All-Star Team
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
and was promoted to the League's starting lineup after an injury to Boston's Manny Ramírez
Manny Ramírez
Manuel "Manny" Arístides Ramírez Onelcida is a retired Dominican-American professional baseball outfielder. He was recognized for great batting skill and power, a nine-time Silver Slugger and one of 25 players to hit 500 career home runs. Ramirez's 21 grand slams are third all-time, and his 28...
. It was his second appearance in the mid-summer classic.
During the season, Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
general manager J.P. Ricciardi
J.P. Ricciardi
John Paul Ricciardi is a Major League Baseball executive who currently is a special assistant to New York Mets General Manager Sandy Alderson...
criticized Wells, as well as teammates Troy Glaus
Troy Glaus
Troy Edward Glaus is a Major League Baseball first baseman and third baseman who is currently a free agent. Previously, Glaus played with the Anaheim Angels , Arizona Diamondbacks , Toronto Blue Jays , St. Louis Cardinals , and the Atlanta Braves . Glaus lettered in baseball while attending UCLA...
and Shea Hillenbrand
Shea Hillenbrand
Shea Matthew Hillenbrand is a professional baseball player who last played for the York Revolution of the independent Atlantic League....
, for failure to perform during key situations after two losses to the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
just before the 2006 All-Star break. He followed such criticisms with great play throughout the rest of the year, including a walk-off home run
Walk-off home run
In baseball, a walk-off home run is a home run that ends the game. It must be a home run that gives the home team the lead in the bottom of the final inning of the game—either the ninth inning, or any extra inning, or any other regularly scheduled final inning...
against New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
closer
Closer (baseball)
In baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer , is a relief pitcher who specializes in closing out games, i.e., getting the final outs in a close game. Closers often appear when the score is close, and the role is often assigned to a team's best reliever. A small number of...
Mariano Rivera
Mariano Rivera
Mariano Rivera is a Panamanian right-handed baseball pitcher who has played 17 years in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees. Nicknamed "Mo", Rivera has served as a relief pitcher for most of his career, and since 1997, he has been the Yankees' closer...
. On September 24, he recorded his 500th RBI in a game against the Boston Red Sox.
At the end of the 2006 season, Wells was awarded his 3rd straight Gold Glove Award
Gold Glove Award
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
for his outfield defense, along with Torii Hunter
Torii Hunter
Torii Kedar Hunter is a Major League Baseball right fielder for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.Hunter has taken away many home runs throughout his 13-year major league career by "climbing the fence" in the outfield. He has won nine consecutive Gold Glove Awards as an outfielder.Hunter resides...
, and Ichiro Suzuki
Ichiro Suzuki
, usually known simply as is a Major League Baseball right fielder for the Seattle Mariners. Ichiro has established a number of batting records, including the sport's single-season record for hits with 262...
. He also signed a back-loaded contract for $126 million over seven years, which was criticized in the media.
2007–2010
In 2007, Wells performed well below his 2006 totals with a .704 OPS. Vernon had the lowest range factorRange Factor
Range Factor is a baseball statistic developed by Bill James. It is calculated by dividing putouts and assists by number of innings or games played at a given defense position...
of all major league center fielders, 2.29. He suffered a shoulder injury early in the 2007 season and had shoulder surgery in September. . 2007 was certainly Wells' worst full year in the majors as he finished with a .245 average and only 16 home runs, despite hitting 80 RBIs.
On May 8, 2008 Wells suffered a broken left wrist while making a diving catch. He returned on June 7, but later strained his left hamstring on July 9 and missed over a month of the season. Despite the significant amount time missed to injury, 2008 otherwise represented a return to form for Wells as he finished the year hitting .300 with 20 home runs and 78 RBIs in just 108 games.
Wells began 2010 on a promising start, hitting 4 home runs and 8 RBI in the first series. He continued to play and hit well and had a strong start by hitting .337 with 8 home runs and 16 RBI in April. On April 7, he also had his first multi-home run game against the Rangers the first time he had done that since September 28, 2008. On June 27, Wells hit a two-run home run that made Jamie Moyer
Jamie Moyer
Jamie Moyer is an American professional left handed baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. At the time of his last game to date , he was the oldest player in the major leagues and had the most wins, losses, and strikeouts of any active Major League pitcher...
of the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, Major League Baseball's all time most home runs allowed leader with 506. On July 5, 2010 Wells was named a reserve for the 2010 MLB All-Star Game, along with José Bautista, and John Buck from the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
. Wells was also a participant in the Home Run Derby
Home Run Derby
The Home Run Derby is an event played prior to the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. It is a contest among the top home run hitters in Major League Baseball to determine who can hit the most home runs. The event is currently sponsored by State Farm Insurance...
, where Chris Berman predicted that Wells, whom he nicknamed the "Canadian Breeze," would carry away the title. Wells ended up hitting two home runs in the first round.
On September 24, 2010 Wells hit his 30th home run of the season. That home run made Wells only the fourth player in Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
history to have three or more seasons with at least 30 home runs, joining Carlos Delgado
Carlos Delgado
Carlos Juan Delgado Hernández is a retired Puerto Rican professional baseball player. With 473 home runs and 1,512 RBI, he holds the all-time home run and RBI records among Puerto Rican players....
, Joe Carter
Joe Carter
Joseph Christopher Carter is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball who played from to . Carter is most famous for hitting a walk-off home run to win the 1993 World Series for the Toronto Blue Jays....
and Fred McGriff
Fred McGriff
Frederick Stanley McGriff is a left-handed former Major League Baseball player who starred for several teams from the mid-1980s until the early 2000s. A power-hitting first baseman with a tall, lanky build, the five-time All-Star became, in , the first player since the dead-ball era to lead both...
. At the end of the season, Wells had 31 home runs, 88 RBI, and an .847 OPS, making the 2010 season his best since he signed his contract extension in 2006. He finished the year batting .273, with 161 hits in 590 at bats, giving him over 1,500 hits in his career.
Also in 2010, Wells was selected to receive the 2010 Branch Rickey Award
Branch Rickey Award
The Branch Rickey Award is given annually to a Major League Baseball player in recognition of his exceptional community service. The award is named for former player and executive Branch Rickey, who is best known as the president and general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, and as the executive who...
for humanitarian works by the Rotary Club of Denver. He is the second member of the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
to receive this honor: Dave Winfield
Dave Winfield
David Mark Winfield is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder. He is currently Executive Vice President/Senior Advisor of the San Diego Padres and an analyst for the ESPN program Baseball Tonight...
was the 1992 recipient. The award was presented on November 13, 2010 and Wells was then inducted into the Baseball Humanitarians Hall of Fame.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2011–present)
On January 21, Wells was traded to the Los Angeles Angels of AnaheimLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
, in exchange for catcher Mike Napoli
Mike Napoli
Michael Anthony Napoli is a Major League Baseball catcher/first baseman with the Texas Rangers.-Early career:Napoli attended Charles Flanagan High School in Pembroke Pines, Florida...
and outfielder Juan Rivera. Wells started out the season in a horrible fashion, hitting below the Mendoza Line
Mendoza Line
The Mendoza Line is an expression in baseball in the United States, deriving from the name of shortstop Mario Mendoza, whose lifetime batting average is taken to define the threshold of incompetent hitting...
through the first month-and-a-half of the 2011 season. At the All Star break, his batting average improved to .222. Wells "heated up" during the months of June and July, hitting 11 home runs combined in those months, after hitting only four in the previous two. In his first game back in Toronto on August 12, Wells received a standing ovation before his first at bat, he followed that up by taking the first pitch of the at bat thrown by Brandon Morrow
Brandon Morrow
Brandon John Morrow is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball....
over the left-center field fence. In 2011, he batted .218, the lowest batting average of all major league ballplayers with 512 or more plate appearances, and also had the lowest on base percentage (.248).
Off the field activities
- During the 2006 post-season, Wells was an analyst for ESPNESPNEntertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
's Baseball TonightBaseball TonightBaseball Tonight is a program that airs on ESPN. The show, which recapitulates the day's Major League Baseball action, has been on the air since 1990.-Air times:...
show. - Since 2002, Wells has acted as the Honorary Commissioner of the Toronto Rookie League, a Greater Toronto AreaGreater Toronto AreaThe Greater Toronto Area is the largest metropolitan area in Canada, with a 2006 census population of 5.5 million. The Greater Toronto Area is usually defined as the central city of Toronto, along with four regional municipalities surrounding it: Durham, Halton, Peel, and York...
baseball league run for underprivileged children who live in Toronto Community HousingToronto Community Housing CorporationToronto Community Housing Corporation is a public housing agency in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and is the second-largest housing provider in North America. TCHC is the amalgamation of three housing organizations in Toronto following the downloading of housing to municipalities by the provincial...
.
See also
- List of top 300 Major League Baseball home run hitters
- List of Major League Baseball doubles champions