DETROIT, Mich. - Former All-American outfielder Casper Wells, who played baseball at Towson University from 2003 to 2005, is expected to make his major league debut for the Detroit Tigers this weekend when Detroit hosts the Boston Red Sox at Comerica Park.
The 25-year old Wells, who was the Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year in 2005, had been playing for the Toledo Mud Hens when he was called up to the major leagues on Friday afternoon. He replaced pitcher Alfredo Figaro on the Detroit roster.
Wells probably earned the promotion after a very strong performance in spring training. He caught the attention of Manager Jim Leyland by batting .385 with a .414 on-base percentage in the spring. In 31 games for Toledo, Wells hit five home runs and had 12 runs batted in.
Wells, who will be wearing #57 for Detroit, joins a Tiger outfield that also includes Austin Jackson, Magglio Ordonez, Brennan Boesch and Johnny Damon. Ryan Raburn had been sent to the minor leagues earlier this week.
A 14th-round draft pick by Detroit in 2005, Wells batted .351 in his college career for the Tigers. The sixth-leading hitter in school history, he blasted 28 home runs with 115 runs batted in. A two-time All-CAA selection, he hit .362 during the 2005 season with 72 runs scored, 18 homers and 66 RBI's while leading Towson to a 34-24 record and a runner-up finish in the CAA Tournament.
He enjoyed his finest minor league season in 2008 when he split the year between West Michigan and Erie. Selected to the Midwest League all-star team, he batted a combined .269 with 27 home runs and 79 runs batted in for the two teams.
When he learned of his promotion to the major leagues, Wells told CBS6 of Albany, "I was pretty much in shock. I told my dad (Casper Wells Sr.) and he said, 'What?' We're all in shock."
A native of Schenectady, N.Y., Wells will become the third former Towson Tiger to play major league baseball when he makes his debut.
Infielder Al Rubeling and pitcher Chris Nabholz are the only other Towson alumni to play major league baseball. Rubeling appeared in 253 big league games for the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Philadelphia Athletics from 1940 to 1944. A second round draft pick by the Montreal Expos in 1988, Nabholz pitched in the majors for five seasons, including Montreal, Cleveland, Boston and the Chicago Cubs. He compiled a 37-35 record with a 3.94 E.R.A.
Currently in second place in the American League Central Division standings with a 20-15 record, Detroit hosts Boston in a three-game series this weekend. Early next week, Detroit also hosts the Chicago White Sox.
