Former Terps guard Dez Wells hopes to avoid infamy with O's ceremonial first pitch

"I was about about 8 or 9," Wells said Thursday. "I think I played shortstop."

Wells is aware of what might happen if he slips off the pitcher's mound, as his high school buddy, Washington Wizards star guard John Wall, claimed to have done in 2011 at Nationals Park before a Nationals-Orioles game.

The ball didn't come close to reaching home plate, thrusting Wall into the debate for worst first pitch in the history of that long-standing baseball tradition, right along with former Wizard Caron Butler and rapper 50 Cent.

Nationals television analyst F.P. Santangelo likened Wall's attempt to "a bounce pass." Reliever Drew Storen, who was standing in as Wall's catcher, put his mitt over his mouth to hide his laughter at a pitch that seemed more suitable for cricket.

Wall redeemed himself two years later, in 2013, with another attempt at Nationals Park.

"It was more relief to finally get it past the mound. It was exciting just to redeem yourself and get it over with," Wall told The Washington Post.

Wells doesn't expect any trouble Friday in Baltimore, though he acknowledged feeling a little nervousness after he accepted the offer.

"I saw [Wall's 2011 pitch]. What I see people do wrong is that everyone wants to throw a strike," Wells said. "I'm not having an identity crisis. I know I'm not a baseball player. I just want to get the ball to the catcher. That's the main objective."

Wells said he hoped to get to the ballpark in time to get one practice throw "before the big moment."

Comparing his preparation to the kind he did before free throws during big basketball games, Wells said that "you want to make things as simple as possible in your mind, and I played these things over and over in my mind."

Since learning from agent Vance Young that he would throw out the first pitch, Wells has visualized it. Except that it came when he was sleeping, and "I dreamed of embarrassing myself. I got up there, I look confident, everyone was going crazy, and the butterflies took over and I just threw a ground ball."

Sort of like Wall did the first time.

Wells said he is going to enjoy the moment.

"It's not about me," he said. "It about having a chance to have some interaction with some people who didn't get to see me play at Maryland and sign some autographs. I just want to enjoy the experience. It's not going to make or break anything. I want to thank the Orioles organization for allowing me the opportunity."

don.markus@baltsun.com

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