SILive.Com Article

Staten Island, NY - 2010 Wagner College graduate Andy Wells (Staten Island, NY / St. Peter's) is now one of four former Seahawks in affiliated baseball after inking a free agent contract with the Phillies. The hard-throwing right-handed pitcher was signed by Staten Island native John Hagemann, a 40-year scouting veteran who spent much of his career with the Atlanta Braves before being hired by Philadelphia.

"We are very happy for Andy," said head coach Joe Litterio. "He has put in a lot of hard work and it has paid off for him."

For Wells it will be his second forray into professional ball as he played this past summer for the Evansville Otters of the Frontier League.

Wells transferred to Grymes Hill from Siena where he played his first two seasons for the Saints. After establishing himself as one of the top pro prospects in the Northeast Conference (NEC) as a junior in 2008, he hurt his arm and took a medical redshirt in 2009. Wells returned to the line-up last season, pitching his first game just under a year after being sidelined and requiring Tommy John surgery.

In 26 career games with Wagner, Wells went 6-9 with 78 strikeouts and a 6.36 ERA over 99.0 innings of work, culminated by a career-best three wins in 2010. He fired a scoreless inning of work in just his second action of the year, helping the Seahawks best eventual Big East champion St. John's. However his finest Wagner moment in 2010 came against San Diego State. In three innings of work against the Aztecs, Wells struck out six, including five-straight and all three batters swinging in the bottom of the seventh.

Wells will depart for Spring Training in Clearwater, FL in a few weeks before learning where he will be assigned. The Staten Island native figures to be with the Williamsport (PA) Crosscutters of the short-season New York Penn League or the Lakewood (NJ) BlueClaws of the Low-A South Atlantic League.

There are now five former members of the Green & White in the professional ranks, including two-time American League All-Star Andrew Bailey of the Oakland A's.