Jackson Wells Ryan Pesciotta interview on his Astros signing

In the Jackson Wells Ryan Pesciotta interview, the Houston Astros pitcher described signing as a free agent after going undrafted in 2025, his goal of reaching Double-A and the perspective he has gained while preparing for a baby boy. Wells also discussed his Little Rock teammates, the move from starting to relieving and the role of faith in his baseball career.

What did Jackson Wells say about his complete games and Little Rock’s conference title?

Jackson Wells said the last of his three college complete games mattered most because it came in a conference tournament after nearly two years without pitching that deep into a game. He also called Little Rock’s Ohio Valley Conference regular-season championship team the closest group he has been part of.

Finishing the conference tournament game

Two of Wells’s complete games came during his first year at Little Rock, when he felt things were going well. The tournament outing in his final year tested him differently. He said he had rarely gone beyond six innings over the preceding two seasons, making the chance to finish a game meaningful both for him and for the team.

Little Rock had narrowly made the tournament. Wells recalled feeling his energy dip after about seven innings, then being asked whether he could pitch the ninth. He agreed and felt a rush of adrenaline at working that late in a game for the first time in almost two years.

The Ohio Valley Conference team

Wells said roughly 27 players had arrived at Little Rock together, while Hoss had been there longer. The group had narrowly missed the conference title the previous year after being swept in its final series. Winning the regular-season title with many of the same teammates meant more because of that disappointment.

That closeness affected how the team played, Wells said. Some players had down years, but teammates picked one another up and found ways to produce at important moments. He valued knowing the player beside him would be ready to help when needed.

How did Jackson Wells sign with the Houston Astros after the 2025 draft?

Jackson Wells signed with the Houston Astros as a free agent after going undrafted in 2025. He had spoken with several teams the previous fall, but said the Astros were the only organization he talked to during the spring. An offer arrived while he was watching the draft.

Freddie’s visit to CMO

Wells said Astros area scout Freddie watched him pitch at CMO. Wells did not think his box-score numbers looked especially good that day, but believed he competed well. Afterward, Freddie told him he would do everything he could to make him an Astro. Wells appreciated the support without knowing whether it would lead to a contract.

The free-agent call

Going into the draft, Wells thought his chances might be around 50-50, and privately felt they could be lower. He recalled receiving a call around the 17th round about signing as a free agent. The opportunity fulfilled his longtime goal of playing professional baseball.

He connected the timing to his faith. Wells said he had been stressed about the draft before hearing a church message about God’s plans for his life. He also reflected on a difficult 2024 season: had he entered professional baseball then, he believed he and his wife might have married about a year later. They married roughly a month before he was picked up by the Astros.

How has Jackson Wells adjusted to professional baseball?

Jackson Wells said his biggest adjustment has been moving from a college starting role to the bullpen, where he must prepare without knowing when he might pitch. The longer professional schedule and stronger lineups have also made recovery, routine and mental energy more important to him.

From starter to bullpen arm

As a starter, Wells could plan his lifting around a scheduled outing and bullpen session. In relief, those routines depend more on when he throws. He said he began getting a better handle on doing less between appearances about halfway through the season, though he was still learning the role.

The daily professional schedule

Wells described professional lineups as full of hitters at least as challenging as the best ones he faced in college. Instead of building toward a shorter college week, he had to be ready through a six-day playing schedule over several months. He said caring for his body was essential, but so was avoiding an all-day intensity that would leave him unable to focus when it mattered.

What did Jackson Wells notice about Zach Cole?

Jackson Wells said Zach Cole showed him how a more experienced player could keep the same attitude through an uncomfortable stretch of the season. Their time together did not give Wells much position-specific advice, but it made a lasting impression on how he wanted to handle the daily ups and downs.

Sharing a clubhouse with Zach Cole

Cole was on the position-player side, so Wells mostly saw him in the locker room and cafeteria rather than through a shared pitching routine. That contact helped Wells see accomplished players as approachable teammates who still had to do their work every day.

A difficult week in Charleston

Wells recalled Cole spending time with the team in Charleston during a muggy week with muddy field conditions. He said Cole was rehabbing but kept smiling and did not complain. To Wells, the example was less about a particular drill than about maintaining a steady attitude regardless of the setting.

How has Jackson Wells improved, and what are his next-season goals?

Jackson Wells said his average velocity rose by about one or two miles per hour after he entered the Astros organization, while his breaking balls improved. For the coming season, his main goals are to cut his walk rate, make his results more consistent and reach Double-A by the end of the year.

Velocity, breaking balls and consistency

Wells attributed some of the velocity increase to working from the bullpen rather than pacing himself for five or six innings. He also credited the organization’s attention to detail and its use of data to help him keep his breaking-ball shapes consistent.

His results fluctuated across stretches of the season, which he linked partly to the wear of a long schedule. He wants to arrive at spring training in better physical shape, believing fatigue can affect both his strike-throwing and velocity.

A clearer plan for his pitches

Alongside the Double-A target, Wells wants to use his off-speed pitches more deliberately. He said his curveball produced good results but may not have been used enough. He also wants to refine his cutter or sweeping slider and decide which best fits his approach.

The changeup had long been his best pitch, Wells said, though inconsistent command led him away from it at times. He wants to stick with pitches that work and maintain a plan across the full season rather than let short stretches dictate his choices.

How have fatherhood and faith changed Jackson Wells’s view of baseball?

Jackson Wells said learning that he and his wife were expecting a baby boy sharpened his focus on being a good husband and father. His faith in Jesus has also helped him handle uncertain baseball outcomes without treating a good outing, a difficult year or a promotion as the measure of his worth.

Preparing for a baby boy

Wells recalled finding out about the pregnancy late on a Saturday night, around the Fourth of July weekend, before a Sunday game. He had pitched three innings the previous Friday and did not expect to pitch Sunday. The news stayed with him even as he went through the ordinary parts of a baseball day.

Explaining the change in perspective, Wells put it simply:

Baseball matters, but it really doesn't

He said the larger question for him was how to prepare to be a good husband and father.

Faith through good and difficult seasons

Wells said he leaned so heavily on baseball during a strong 2023 college season that successful outings did not bring the fulfillment he expected. The following year was harder on the field, and he felt he had put too much pressure on himself to get drafted. At the same time, he said he felt closer to Christ.

Having teammates who shared his faith, including Gable Pentecost and Ryan Matheson, helped him through the ups and downs of his first professional season. Looking back, Wells said he would tell his younger self to trust God rather than try to control every outcome. He would also tell him to enjoy his teammates and the time they spend together in the clubhouse.