GASTONIA, N.C. – The Gastonia Ghost Peppers have signed LHP Nick Wells for the 2025 season, announced by general manager Brady Salisbury on Sunday.
Gastonia welcomes back Wells, who pitched for the club in 2023 and 2024.
The southpaw was a third-round draft pick by the Blue Jays in 2014. He was traded to the Mariners a year later in a package for RHP Mark Lowe. Wells pitched for Seattle’s organization for five years until 2019, when he was traded to the Nationals for RHP Austin Adams. The Haymarket, Virginia, native reached Triple-A Rochester with Washington’s system in 2021.
Wells has been a key piece for Gastonia in each of the past two seasons. The lefty made 30 appearances out of the bullpen in 2023, recording a 2.90 ERA and striking out 37 in 31 innings. He was a crucial part of Gastonia’s deep playoff run.
Last season, Wells transitioned to a starter by adding two pitches – a splitter and sweeper. In seven outings, six of them being starts, Wells went 3-0 with a 2.55 ERA and struck out 42 batters in 35.1 innings with the Baseball Club. In early July, the left-hander had his contract purchased by the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League.
With the addition of the lefty arm, the Ghost Peppers have now signed 24 players for 2025.
The players who have signed so far are:
RHP Jimmie Sherfy
RHP Parker Kruglewicz
RHP Ryne Inman
RHP Matt Hartman
RHP Nick Snyder
RHP Duane Underwood Jr.
LHP Nick Horvath
LHP Ryan Hennen
LHP Kevin Smith
LHP Adam Scott
LHP Justus Sheffield
LHP Nick Wells
C Gavin Stupienski
C Luis Aviles
INF Jake Hoover
INF Alan Alonso
INF Ethan Skender
INF Braxton Davidson
INF Jack Reinheimer
INF Richie Martin
OF Eric De La Rosa
OF Kevin Watson Jr.
OF Narciso Crook
OF Dalton Guthrie
The team will complete the player signing announcements over the next week.