Lachlan and Alex Wells remain focused on achieving their major league goals in the US but the Belmont South baseball twins could soon end up teammates closer to home.
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The 23-year-old pair had their sporting careers turned upside down earlier in 2020, Lachlan at the Minnesota Twins and Alex at the Baltimore Orioles, when American minor leagues were cancelled because of the global coronavirus pandemic.
They both returned to NSW almost immediately in mid-March and now look set to combine forces at the Sydney Blue Sox for this summer's Australian Baseball League (ABL).
It will be yet another stepping stone on the road to, hopefully one day, cracking the big time.
"One hundred percent that's the end goal, get to the major leagues," Lachlan said.
"I want to compete there and hopefully have a successful career."
Alex agreed and said "hopefully soon I can crack the big leagues, get up there and have a pretty good career."
The left-handed pitchers may don matching uniforms during the ABL's 2020-21 season, which remains in the pipeline from November but schedules have yet to be released because of COVID-19 considerations.
Lachlan has signed for the Blue Sox while Alex is awaiting official approval. Sydney's manager Shane Barclay is also their godfather.
It has been at least four years since the siblings last played for that squad in the state capital and they want to make the most of any opportunity to take the mound before travelling back to the US at some stage next year.
"It definitely could be a bit of a lunching pad [again] to get myself really ready to go for that spring training," Lachlan said.
"So by the time I get over there [to the US] I guess I could be a couple of steps in front of a couple of guys and I'm raring to go."
Lachlan, who becomes a free agent at the end of 2021, has played with Minnesota feeder teams the Gulf Coast League Twins, Cedar Rapids Kernals and the Fort Myers Miracle in various competitions since first signing six years ago.
He underwent an elbow procedure, known as Tommy John Surgery, in 2018 and having now fully recovered was aiming to make double-A side the Pensacola Blue Wahoos.
"I was going into this season the best I'd felt in a long time because obviously I was throwing with a bit of injury before the surgery," he said.
Alex scored a contract with Baltimore in 2015 and has pitched with Orioles affiliates such as the Aberdeen IronBirds, Delmarva Shorebirds, Frederick Keys and Bowie Baysox.
"It's been exciting. I've been able to play pretty well and move up a level each year. I've had some pretty good success and glad I signed with them," Alex said.
More recently Alex has utilised Miller Park, headquarters of former club Belmont, for training sessions.
"I've still been able to get my work in. I've played catch with a few guys, thrown bull pens and even had some scrimmage games once restrictions started to lift so got through a few innings here and there," he said.
In terms of Olympic aspirations, with both Wells boys part of the Australian roster at the 2017 World Baseball Classic, the postponed Games in Tokyo are still within reach.
"Absolutely it is [on the agenda] and our qualifiers got pushed back until next year," Lachlan said. "I definitely have my eye set on being on the Olympic team."
"Kids that love baseball will be itching to get out there," Lachlan said.
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