Tyler Wells walked into the Orioles’ clubhouse this afternoon dripping with sweat, the effects of a 25-pitch bullpen session in the Camden Yards heat.

He still managed to look happy.

Wells has made encouraging progress from his ligament-reconstructive elbow surgery last June. He mixed in his changeup today and will incorporate breaking balls next week. He doesn’t know when he’ll be cleared to face hitters.

“Everything’s feeling good,” he said. “Elbow feels good, shoulder feels good, body’s feeling good. So I feel like I’m in a really good spot right now with feels, location, and everything like that.”

Wells is experiencing a process unlike anything else in his life, with responsibilities as a new father woven into his rehab. He’s undergone elbow surgery in the past, before the Orioles chose him in the Rule 5 draft, but this one isn't an exact duplicate.

“The first one was a lot different as far as timing goes, as far as just being in a completely different organization, different times during COVID,” he said. “So this one’s definitely been kind of nice, being able to be around my family and being up here with the guys.”

The silver lining to his surgery was the physical and mental space to enjoy fatherhood.

“It’s honestly been awesome,” he said. “It’s a little divine design, a blessing I’ve actually been able to do that. It’s been nice for my wife (Melissa). It’s been really nice to be able to go home and spend time with my daughter (Ava Faye), especially after either long days at the field after a game or just while the team’s away.

“I’m definitely trying to make the most of it as we get ramped up here, definitely trying to soak it in a little bit more.”

Wells stays in close contact with friend and former teammate John Means, who’s also coming back from a second Tommy John procedure. Means, who signed with the Guardians over the winter, and wife Caroline welcomed daughter Madden into the world in January.

“We still talk quite a bit,” Wells said. “We share our life stories with each other and kind of keep up with each other through the rehab process, and it’s been really cool to see the way that he’s gone through it and the way that I’ve gone through it. The similarities, the differences. It’s a lot of fun. I think that’s where you kind of build your friends for life is going through similar experiences at the same time and just going through crazy ones like we have the last four or five years.”

Kyle Bradish (elbow), Grayson Rodriguez (lat) and Albert Suárez (shoulder) also are rehabbing at Camden Yards due to the construction at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. They appreciate the chance to be near the rest of the team.

“The way that I look at it is, the more that we’re able to kind of be around the guys and the more that we get closer to ramping up, I think the easier it becomes to kind of just really understand where the club’s at, what we need to do,” Wells said. “I just think that it really lays out the foundation of our mental attitude as we start to ramp up and face hitters.”

* The Orioles reinstated catcher Gary Sánchez from the 10-day injured list this afternoon and optioned catcher Maverick Handley to Triple-A Norfolk. He’s the designated hitter today.

Sánchez recovered from a wrist injury and completed a rehab assignment with Norfolk. He wants to bounce back from a slow start, with only three hits in 30 at-bats.

“Imagine, nobody wants to be hurt and not being able to help the team,” he said through interpreter Brandon Quinones. “I’m happy to be back now. I’m feeling healthy and ready to contribute to this team.

“I feel a lot better now than I did in April when I was trying to battle through it.”

Sánchez’s last at-bat with the Orioles was April 27. He went through an extensive shutdown period and played in seven games with Norfolk.

“I thought it was something more simple than it ended up being,” he said, “but the important thing is I’m here now.”

The Orioles need Sánchez to provide a threat against left-handed pitching. The Orioles are batting .203/.280/.277 against it and are 4-15 versus southpaw starters, including openers.

“I think we’ve been struggling, but I think it’s only going to be up to a certain day,” he said. “At some point we’re gonna start making hard contact and hitting those pitchers really well. As far as regarding myself, I’m gonna go in there and do my job. Focus on what I know I can do and try to do the best that I can.”

Asked what he wants Sánchez to bring to the club, interim manager Tony Mansolino replied, “Himself.”

“We’ve seen this guy hit so many big home runs in postseasons and pennant races. I witnessed it,” Mansolino said.

“This is a really good major league player. We’re excited to kind of get him healthy and see the guy that we were planning when he got signed.”

Handley was 3-for-40 with the Orioles but made a strong impression.

“He can run a game, he can absolutely run a game,” Mansolino said. “Just talking with the pitching department, talking with (Robinson) Chirinos, who’s our catching coach, they really like how he thinks through the game and just the thought process of putting down the right fingers – or pressing the right buttons, I guess, in 2025.

“I know the bottom line on the offense didn’t look good up on the scoreboard, but even the ball he hit last night, that ball’s well struck. I feel like there’s more to the bat than probably what the scoreboard said. I’m really excited about him. I think he’s gonna carve himself a nice little niche in the big leagues here in the future.”

* Outfielder Colton Cowser is out of the lineup again after slamming into the center field fence Thursday night.

“Sore. We’re gonna hold him out another day, regroup,” Mansolino said.

“He’s gonna be available tonight. He’s going through some baseball activities and it’s promising. We’ll see where we’re at tomorrow with it, but he’s sore.”

* Ryan O’Hearn is scratched from the lineup with a sore left ankle. He was clipped at first base in the seventh inning last night by Zach Neto.

For the Orioles

Jackson Holliday 2B
Adley Rutschman C
Gunnar Henderson SS
Jordan Westburg 3B
Ramón Laureano RF
Cedric Mullins CF
Gary Sánchez DH
Dylan Carlson LF
Coby Mayo 1B