Orioles minor league recap 4/12: Levi Wells retires 13 straight in Norfolk win

Feb 18, 2026; Sarasota, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles pitcher Levi Wells (93) poses for media day. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images | Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images

Triple-A: Norfolk Tides 3, Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (MIA) 2

It was a very good night for Levi Wells, who retired the first 13 batters he faced. The 14th batter reached on an error by the rehabbing second baseman, Jackson Holliday. The 15th batter doubled, putting runners on second and third with one out in the fifth. After a strikeout, Levi allowed his second hit of the game, a single to score both runs. He exited with one out in the sixth inning with the final pitching line of 5.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K. He threw 86 pitches, 64 for strikes.

All three Norfolk runs came via home run. Westin Wilson hit a two-run homer in the second inning and Creed Willems had a solo shot in the seventh. Wilson’s homer came when he pinch-hit for Sam Huff, who was pulled out of the game with the news that Adley Rutschman was headed to the IL. Huff is a catcher but was slated to DH last night.

Enrique Bradfield, Jr. went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. Holliday singled and was hit by a pitch. Willems had a single to go with his homer.

Box Score

Double-A: Chesapeake Baysox 4, Erie SeaWolves (DET) 1

This game remained scoreless until the fifth inning, when Ethan Anderson hit a home run with Frederick Bencosme (walk) and Aron Estrada (double) on base. In the seventh inning, Bencosme had a home run of his own. Anderson, Estrada, and Bencosme all had multi-hit games.

It was a bullpen game in Bowie, and a good one. Christian Herberholz started and struck out five batters in three shutout innings. He was followed by Yaqui Rivera (3 IP), Micah Ashman (2 IP), and Tyson Neighbors (1 IP). The only run scored in the seventh inning and was unearned after a batter reached on catcher’s interference.

Box Score

High-A: Frederick Keys 11, Winston-Salem Dash (CWS) 2

It was a fun night to be a Key! Ike Irish, Colin Tuft, Wehiwa Aloy, and Vance Honeycutt all hit their first home runs of the season. The Keys got on the board in the first inning with the Irish blast, and ended up scoring in six out of nine innings. Four of those were multi-run innings.

In addition to his homer, Honeycutt walked twice and had 4 RBI as the leadoff batter. Aloy had two hits. Tuft had three. Every hitter in the lineup had at least one hit, and eight of them reached base at least twice.

Not to be outdone by the offense was starting pitcher JT Quinn. In 4.2 shutout innings, Quinn allowed just two hits without a walk. He struck out 10 batters, seven of which were swinging.

Box Score

Low-A: Delmarva Shorebirds 7, Augusta GreenJackets (ATL) 4

The Shorebirds got the win, but Esteban Mejia did not have a good night. In just two-thirds of an inning, Mejia allowed four runs, walked one, and threw three wild pitches. He exited having allowed three runs with 34 pitches. It was a terrible showing by the prospect. Hopefully there are no injury concerns.

The bullpen picked up the slack with 8.1 innings with just one run allowed. Hunter Allen picked up the win with three innings pitched. He allowed just one run but walked four.

All three runs allowed by Mejia in the top of the first inning were canceled out by a three-run bottom of the first by the Shorebirds. After two walks and a single, DJ Layton cleared the bases with a triple. Delmarva pulled away with four runs scored between innings four through six. Layton had a two-hit game and Cobb Hightower picked up three singles.

Box Score

Today’s Schedule

• Triple-A: Norfolk vs Jacksonville, 1:05. Starter: Brandon Young
• Double-A: Chesapeake vs Erie, 1:05. Starter: Sebastian Gongora
• High-A: Frederick @ Winston-Salem, 2:00. Starter: TBD
• Low-A: Delmarva vs Augusta, 2:05. Starter: Christian Rodriguez