College Sports

Former Tyler Junior College pitcher Jared Wells got the call to the major leagues on Friday.

The San Diego Padres brought up Wells, a right-hander from West Columbia High School who pitched for the Apaches in 2002.

Wells helped pitch the Apaches into the NJCAA regional playoffs that spring at Mike Carter Field. He hurt his knee as quarterback at East Texas Baptist University. He underwent reconstructive surgery on his ACL.

The next year, the first year of TJC’s Division III, non-scholarship status, Wells transferred to San Jacinto and helped lead the Gators to the NJCAA Division I World Series in Grand Junction, Colo., and he started the championship game which San Jac lost.

“I’m excited for Jared as he’s been working hard in the minors and done well enough and stayed healthy enough to work his way up the ladder,” TJC coach Jon Groth said. “Most people don’t realize just how difficult it is to become a Major League ballplayer. We’re proud that someone who started his college career at TJC is now our first ever Major League player.

“I realize because of the drop to Division III, Jared transferred to San Jac and most all of the bios and credits for his college baseball cite that program, But TJC is where he started. He had been a QB at ETBU and blown out his knee and we wanted to see how he’d do as a full time baseball guy at TJC.”

Groth said Wells’ numbers at TJC were “OK.” In the spring of 2002, Wells was 2-4 with an ERA of 5.22 in 11 appearances. He had eight starts.

He was 13-2 the next year at San Jac.

Groth added Wells was drafted by the Padres after his freshman year at TJC.

Wells is married to his wife, Molly, and they have two daughters, Gracie and Chloe.

JARED WELLS: Former Tyler Junior College Apache called up to major leagues.
(Courtesy Photo)