Feb 19, 2005 3 min read

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) – The Pittsburgh Pirates opened spring training Friday with high expectations for pitcher Kip Wells. They’re not alone. Wells is also expecting a big year after having a pair of injuries curtail his 2004 season.

“I feel like it’s something I’m capable of,” said Wells, a 27-year-old right-hander who was one of 34 pitchers on hand for the first workout. “Every player has to have a mind-set that he has an ability to take his game to another level.”

Wells was expected to have a breakout season last year after winning 10 games in 2003 with a 3.28 ERA, the 11th best in the National League.

But little went right for Wells after an opening day win over the Philadelphia Phillies.

The right-hander was bothered by numbness in the middle finger of his pitching hand and missed a start to have it checked out. He eventually needed surgery for carpal tunnel, which was done the day after the season ended.

He also had tendinitis in his right elbow that limited him to one start after Aug. 13. He left his final game after throwing 13 pitches and retiring only one batter against Houston.

Wells finished the season making just 24 starts, and he won half as many games as he did in 2003, going 5-7 with an atypical 4.55 ERA.

“I don’t feel like I necessarily let anybody down last year. I feel like I got hurt,” Wells said. “Because of the injuries, I didn’t perform like I was capable of and wasn’t able to carry the load expected of a Number One starter, the guy who starts on opening day.”

This year, Wells will likely be second in the rotation behind left-hander Oliver Perez, an emerging star after striking out 239 batters in 196 innings last year.

“He’s a crucial piece of our rotation,” pitching coach Spin Williams said. “We’re not extremely deep in starting pitching. He’s a big, big piece of the puzzle. If we can run him out there 30-35 times this season, we’ll be OK.”

Manager Lloyd McClendon, though, doesn’t want Wells to put undue pressure on himself.

“The season is not on Kip’s shoulders,” he said. “Kip is one of our biggest question marks as far as health is concerned. He has a high ceiling. If he’s healthy, it’s going to make things a lot better for us.”

Wells spent the offseason strengthening his arm and going to great lengths to improve the circulation in his finger. That included acupuncture, ultrasound and laser therapy and using various medicines and ointments.

“I put in a lot of hours to get myself to where I am now,” Wells said. “With that in mind, getting healthy for the start of the year is my focus. I’m expecting to have a breakout year. I’m expecting to pitch like I did before I got hurt.”

Wells began throwing off a mound at the team’s mini-camp in January. He threw 50 pitches Thursday morning. Although he is throwing only fastballs, Wells is expected to start mixing in his breaking pitches soon.

“Everything is on track,” Wells said. “It’s going as well as I could ask right now.”

NOTES: The only player absent from the first workout was non-roster catcher Carlos Maldonado, who was detained in Venezuela because of visa problems. … Three position players coming off injuries were given clearance to work out with the pitchers and catchers: shortstop Jack Wilson, third baseman Jose Bautista and outfielder Rich Thompson. … The Pirates had 15 pitchers throw off the mound Friday. Left-hander Oliver Perez was supposed to be the 16th, but the staff decided to hold him back until Saturday.