Left-hander Joey Wentz is being called up to start the Tigers’ game against the A’s on Wednesday, Tigers manager A.J. Hinch told reporters (including Evan Petzold of The Detroit Free Press). It will be the first career Major League appearance for Wentz, the 40th overall pick of the 2016 draft.
The Braves selected Wentz in that draft, but dealt the southpaw to Detroit as part of the Shane Greene trade in July 2019. Wentz had run into some struggles at Double-A that season, but the deal was still seen as a nice score for the then-rebuilding Tigers, as Wentz was a well-regarded young starter. Baseball Prospectus even ranked Wentz as the 45th-best prospect in all of baseball prior to the 2018 campaign.
However, injuries took a toll, as Wentz underwent Tommy John surgery in March 2020. Returning to action in May 2021, Wentz logged a 4.50 ERA over 72 combined innings with the Tigers’ A-ball and Double-A affiliates. Making his Triple-A debut this season, Wentz has a 4.12 ERA and a 33.8% strikeout rate in 19 2/3 innings for the Toledo Mud Hens, though his 13% walk rate and 25% homer rate are cause for concern.
Baseball America rates the 24-year-old Wentz as the ninth-best prospect in Detroit’s farm system, while MLB Pipeline has the left-hander 12th on its list. Wentz’s changeup is considered to be his best pitch, with BA’s scouting report citing Wentz’s changeup a nice complement with a fastball that clocks in the low 90’s. Control has been Wentz’s biggest issue throughout his minor league career, and BA feels his ceiling in the majors is as “a back-end starter who caps at five innings or a long reliever.”
Wentz hasn’t thrown more than 4 2/3 innings or 84 pitches in any of his five outings at Triple-A, so the Tigers figures to keep him on somewhat of a short leash on Wednesday. That said, Detroit will obviously take anything they can get, as the club continues to try and fill innings within a rotation shorthanded from injuries. A scheduling crunch is also in play — the Tigers have a doubleheader with the Athletics today, and are in the midst of a stretch of 17 games in 15 days.
As a result, Hinch said that Wentz or Alex Faedo (who starts the second game of today’s doubleheader) will remain in the rotation until some of the regular starters are available. “Some of it depends on performance. Some of it depends on matchup,” Hinch said of the criteria the team will use to evaluate between Faedo and Wentz.
Matt Manning, Casey Mize, and Tyler Alexander are all on the 10-day injured list, with Manning being the closest to a return. Manning already has one Triple-A rehab start under his belt, and he’ll toss a bullpen session today at Comerica Park before making at least one more rehab outing. Mize is also slated to start a rehab assignment this week.
While the Tigers aren’t going to do anything to rush their prized young hurlers, reinforcements are needed quick. The pitching injuries and an almost team-wide lack of hitting has resulted in an ugly 8-20 record for Detroit thus far, and the team has lost its last six games.
Faedo gets to be the 27th man for the DH today, but a roster move will be needed when Wentz comes up. Given they are currently carrying 14 pitchers, it is unlikely they will carry 15 pitchers, so which pitcher gets sent down? My guess is Hutchinson. He would clear waivers and if he consents to going down he could get stretched out as a starter if needed later in the year. If not him likely Rony Garcia, but they just brought him up. We’ll see if that is it or the Tigers have a surprise in store.
Yeah, Hutchison or Garcia. Three long relievers (including Peralta) is probably one too many. A less likely possibility is that they DFA Jimenez, but he would likely be claimed.
Hutchinson can go
Would be my preference as well.
Jimenez has one option (year) left. Since both Wentz and Faedo are on the 40-man roster as well, Jimenez could simply be sent down to Toledo and vacate a roster spot for a starter. If I were Avila, I’d choose this way; Jimenez came back much improved after being optioned last year.
Gruß,
BSHH
Jimenez and Soto stink. They won’t be able to win with those two at the back end of the bullpen.
I could not agree more!!! Give them both their Walking Papers! Don’t send them down. Release them! Soto is worse than Todd Jones ever was. Soto is not a closer and Jimenez is nor much of anything. While they’re at it, they might as well start looking for a new hitting coach
DFA Soto
I hope that is just trolling or sarcasm with Soto. A left handed who can paint the corner throwing 99. Every single team would line up for him if the Tigers cut him. Very similar to Aroldis Chapman. Hard throwing left hander with a bit of wildness.
I wonder if Wentz can get “it” back.
I guess without benefit of cheating and trash cans, a j. Hinch just isn’t a very good manager. Time to send the cheating scum packing
He took over a rebuilding club and there was pretty big shift/turnaround in his first year. They have gotten off to a slow start in the second year. You’re right, definitely needs to get fired
(sarcasm)
Good for Wentz. He’s had a long slog to get this point.
This season is really going down the toilet FAST !
You watch. There’ll be a huge salary dump at the trade deadline. And once again, Avila will get nothing in return
Who’s left to dump that would get anything in return? Schoop, Grossman, Meadows, Candy? Not much return for any of those guys. The rest of the team is made up of rookies or mid-level prospects.
I highly doubt that. The Tigers are still rebuilding, they spent money this off-season not as much as the could have though. Moves will be made, not a fire sale though. Keep the faith.
Been saying it forever, and have no clue as to why he gets a pass all the time. But Al Avila is a ROTTEN GM! He hasn’t made a single trade that’s worked out for Detroit since he took over for DD. Verlander trade? Daz Cameron, Franklin Perez and Jake Rogers? For a pitcher that has just won a Cy Young award? Wow! What did he get for JD Martinez the year we traded him and he was leading the majors in HRs? Dewel Lugo and Sergio Alcantara. And there not even on the club anymore! His drafts (outside of the obvious picks of Mize and Torkelson at 1-1) haven’t produced a dang thing! Why does he get a pass with this rebuild struggling the way it is? I guess I just don’t get it….
You forgot Skubal, who just got a W today. Also paredes who was traded for Meadows another two you forgot and multiple others. Verlander had one seasons left on his contract and JD was a FA that winter. Also Mike Ilitch (RIP) and Dave left the team in dumpster took a s*#% on it and gave Al the keys. I’m not saying he is going to be the best GM ever but took the team from nothing to something you can build on.
I’ll say it again: I still think the Tigers will win 85 games this year. There’s plenty of talent on this team.
85 wins would only take playing .500 ball the rest of the season, along with one or two extra wins each month. They lengthy streak
Hutchison DFA’d to make room for Wentz
Congratulations Mr. Wentz!
By the way, Al, I’m still available.
By the way, Mr. Illich, IF YOU WANT to turn this team around, I am still available.
IF you want a dynasty.
IF you want a World Series winner….
Come talk to me.
I am someone from outside of the box.
I can be of service.
You can benefit!
Hire the Superfife.
I can tell you why in 5 minutes or less.
Thank you in advance!
The other part of that Shane Greene deal, Travis Demeritte, is back with Atlanta and playing with the Braves and having a decent season.
The Tigers probably should have given him more chances. He would have blossom with AJ hinch as his manager