The Pirates have claimed left-hander Joey Wentz off waivers from the Tigers, in accordance with bulletins from each golf equipment. The Tigers had designated him for task in current days. The Pirates had an open 40-man spot however might want to open an energetic roster spot as soon as Wentz stories to the staff since he’s out of choices.
Wentz, now 26, was as soon as a notable prospect. He was chosen fortieth general by Atlanta within the 2016 draft and posted some good numbers within the minors earlier than being flipped to the Tigers within the July 2019 commerce that despatched Shane Greene the opposite method. Sadly, Wentz required Tommy John surgical procedure in March of 2020, placing him on the shelf for that 12 months and a part of 2021. The Tigers nonetheless believed in his future, including him to their 40-man roster in November of 2020 to maintain him out of the Rule 5 draft.
Since getting back from his surgical procedure absence, he has usually posted stable numbers within the minors however not within the majors. Over the 2021-23 seasons, he tossed 154 innings on the farm, permitting 3.97 earned runs per 9 innings. His 11.4% stroll charge in that point was a bit excessive however he struck out 26.7% of batters confronted. However he had a 5.99 ERA in 138 1/3 main league innings throughout that very same timeframe, putting out simply 19.9% of batters confronted within the massive leagues.
He exhausted his possibility years in that stretch and has been out of choices right here in 2024. The Tigers stored him of their bullpen for the primary few months of the season with some combined outcomes. He was capable of present them with a multi-inning reduction arm, absorbing 55 1/3 frames over 38 outings, however with a 5.37 ERA. His 23.6% strikeout charge and 10.6% stroll charge are near common however his .333 batting common on balls in play and 69.8% strand charge have each been a bit on the unfortunate aspect. His 4.52 FIP and three.97 SIERA each counsel he deserved higher outcomes than he acquired this 12 months.
Maybe that’s what the Pirates will probably be banking on, along with Wentz’s earlier prospect pedigree. They should hold him on their energetic roster because of his out-of-options standing however that needs to be doable with just some weeks left within the season and the membership now out of competition. In the event that they handle to maintain Wentz on their roster, he may be retained effectively into the long run. He’ll end this season with underneath two years of service time, that means he may be retained for 5 seasons after this one.
