Kip began his career in 1999 with the Chicago White Sox.  Thru the 2009 season, he has played with the White Sox 1999-2001, Pittsburgh Pirates 2002-06, Texas Rangers 2006, St. Louis Cardinals 2007, Colorado Rockies 2008, Kansas City Royals 2008, Washington Nationals 2009 and Cincinnati Reds 2009.  Thru the 2009 season, he has played in 290 games and registered a 67-99 won/loss record with a 4.71 ERA, 3 complete games, 2 shutouts, 2 saves and 944 K's in 1301.0 innings pitched.  Kip was the first round (16th overall) draft pick of the Chicago White Sox in the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft.  Kip signed the sweet spot of this OML Allan H. Selig baseball with a blue ballpoint pen.  Kip originally signed this OML baseball on June 9, 2007.

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High school career

Wells attended Elkins High School in Missouri City, Texas and was a baseball star and an honor roll student. In baseball, he won All-State and All-America honors after his Senior year (1995)^[1]. He was taken by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 58th round of the Major League Baseball Draft that June. He did not sign with the Brewers; instead, he went to Baylor University.

College career

He posted a career record of 21-14 for the Baylor Bears with a 5.17 ERA and 288 strikeouts in three collegiate seasons and was 1998 2nd Team All-America, 1998 Big 12 1st Team, 1998 All-Region, 1999 Pre Season All America 2nd Team. He also played with the Brewster Whitecaps in the Cape Cod League during the summer of 1997^[2]. He went 5-6 with a 1.92 ERA, 49 strikeouts and five saves to earn the league's Outstanding Pro Prospect Award.

Pro career

Chicago White Sox

Wells was the first round (16th overall) draft pick of the Chicago White Sox in the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft. He made his first major league appearance with the White Sox the following year. In his debut against the Detroit Tigers, Wells went 5.1 innings, giving up 6 hits, 2 runs and 1 earned run while walking 2 and striking out 4 for his first Major League victory^[3]

Pittsburgh Pirates

After the 2001 season, in which he split time between the starting rotation and the bullpen, Wells was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

As of the end of the 2005 season, Wells had a 55-69 record and a 4.36 ERA after 188 games over the course of seven seasons. Wells led the league in losses in 2005, going 8-18 on a Pirates team that went 72-90.

On March 1, 2006, Wells announced he would have surgery to remove a blood clot in his right arm^[4]. The surgery was performed on March 6, and he returned to the field on June 19, 2006.

During his time with the Pirates, Wells once hit a 550 foot home run to dead center field at PNC Park.

Texas Rangers

At the trade deadline in 2006, Wells was traded from the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Texas Rangers for Jesse Chavez. [1]

St. Louis Cardinals

On November 28, 2006, Kip Wells signed a free agent contract with the St. Louis Cardinals. He struggled in the first half, going 3-11 with an ERA of 5.92 and getting demoted to the bullpen right before the All-Star break. After the All-Star Break, he was a little better, posting a 4-6 record. He made a promising start against the Florida Marlins on July 18, when he threw eight shutout innings in a 6-0 Cardinals win.^[5] At the conclusion of the 2007 season, Wells' record was 7-17 with an ERA of 5.70.

Colorado Rockies

On December 13, 2007, he signed with the Colorado Rockies. Wells began the 2008 season compiling a 2.29 ERA in ten games with 16 strikeouts as the primary long relief pitcher out of the bullpen. However, on April 30, Wells was placed on the disabled list with blood clots in his pitching hand. On August 10, 2008 the Rockies designated him for assignment and was eventually released.

Kansas City Royals

Wells signed with the Kansas City Royals on August 18, 2008.

Washington Nationals

On March 11, 2009, Wells signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals.^[6] He was brought up to the majors to pitch out of the bullpen, but was ineffective, posting a 6.49 ERA in 26.1 innings before being placed on the disabled list with a right adductor strain on June 2. He was again designated for assignment on June 24.

Cincinnati Reds

On July 9, 2009, Wells signed a deal with Cincinnati Reds Triple A affiliate, the Louisville Bats.^[7]

In August Wells was promoted to the Reds once again pitching in major league baseball. The Reds used Wells in the role of a long reliever as well as a fill-in starter.

On February 13, 2010 the Cincinnati Reds re-signed Wells to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training.^[8]

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