The Pittsburgh Pirates have bolstered their bullpen with some additional left-handed support by claiming reliever Joey Wentz off waivers from the Detroit Tigers. With an open spot on their 40-man roster, the Pirates will need to make a corresponding move to integrate Wentz into their 28-man roster, as he is out of options.
Originally a first-round pick (40th overall) by the Atlanta Braves in 2016, Wentz has faced challenges since being traded to the Tigers in 2019. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2020 and has had inconsistent results while splitting time between the majors and minors from 2021 to 2023. Over that period, he pitched 154 innings across four levels of Detroit’s farm system, posting a 3.97 ERA with an 11.4% walk rate and a 26.7% strikeout rate.
However, his major league performance during this time was less impressive. He recorded a 5.99 ERA in 138 1/3 innings, with a strikeout rate of only 19.9%. In 2023, Wentz was primarily used as a starter, finishing with a 3-13 record and a 6.90 ERA in 25 appearances, 19 of which were starts.
In 2024, Wentz served as a multi-inning reliever for Detroit, pitching 55 1/3 innings over 38 games with a 5.37 ERA before being designated for assignment on August 30.
The Pirates are counting on Wentz’s potential as they add him to their roster. With the team out of playoff contention, they will likely use the remainder of the season to evaluate Wentz’s performance. At 26 years old, he has less than two years of major league service time, which means the Pirates could retain him for up to five more seasons if he proves effective.
