There is always that guy who suddenly seems to have turned a corner out of nowhere. Suddenly, they are dealing, suddenly they are confident, like they have figured something out that the rest of the roster hasn’t. This time, a certain 23-year-old in the Baltimore Orioles system is doing just that. His numbers are turning heads, and if you watch closely, the difference is clear.

The player in question is Levi Wells. But the more important question you should ask is, what changed?

Well, the answer to that lies not in Baltimore but in Texas, where this pitcher spent his off-season. He wasn’t just training; he was there learning from the best in the game. We are talking bullpen sessions and mindset breakdowns from none other than Nathan Eovaldi. And as a young arm trying to level it up, it’s like unlocking a GTA cheat code. And so far it’s working.

Thanks to those sessions, he is a different guy on the mound. He is more precise and more composed, and compared to his rough outing last year, his 3.08 ERA is proof. Wells also gave credit where it’s due. Wells told the Baltimore Sun, “It was a humbling experience every day going in there.” And you can tell that he meant it. From learning how to vary the fastball velocity to perfecting the release point, he was all in. And it looks like he is simply mesmerized by Eovaldi, and why not? The $75 million star is a two-time World Series champ. From trades and surgeries to setbacks, he has been through it all.

And the fact that he even joked with Orioles manager Brandon Hyde during spring training by saying, “Welcome to Southeast Texas,” says a lot. Orioles, meanwhile, are also impressed by Wells, and back in March, Hyde had great things to say about him. Additionally, the Baysox pitching coach, Jordie Henry, also went on to praise Wells. He went, “Since he was in college, he is an elite mover. If you were to draw up how a guy looked when throwing a baseball and make it look perfect, he’d be the poster child for how to throw an object. He’s really raised the floor for himself this year. His stuff is as good as anyone in minor league baseball.” Well, good for Wells, and also great that he gave credit where it was due.

For now, though Wells hasn’t texted the Rangers star, Eovaldi himself said that he is open to a conversation anytime.

Jackson Holliday can be the light of the tunnel for the Baltimore Orioles

In Baltimore, though, it’s tough to find sunshine now, and no, it’s not just the weather! The Orioles came into the season with a wave of expectations. But right now, things have gone drastically sideways. They are sitting at 15-24 and have landed in the basement of the AL East. And only three teams in the entire league have fared worse than them. It’s more ‘burned land’ than ‘birdland’ for the fans now.

The power rankings, too, are done pretending. MLB.com’s Will Leitch just dropped the O’s from 22nd to 24th, and with a tone that simply screams, “Let’s simply try to find something good to say.” He wrote, “It has been extremely dark in Baltimore of late. So let’s try to focus on something positive, if possible: Jackson Holliday is starting to slowly come along.” And, well, he isn’t wrong either. Because Jackson Holliday might be the only glimmer of hope now.

Over a 15-game stretch before a hitless outing on Sunday, the rookie slashed .356/.442/.511 with two homers. This is the hit that the Orioles need, and fans are calling for him to be in the lineup every single time. The 20-year-old with his four home runs, 12 RBIs in 34 games, and 117 OPS+ does paint a picture of him being the real deal. However, saying that Orioles would need the rest of the roster to catch fire the way he has, too. Rumors of a possible trade with Twins’ Joe Ryan have come forth, but it remains to be seen.

So do you think it’s too late for the Orioles to rescue this season, or is there still time and hope? Let us know in the comments.