Joey Wentz Bio
Joseph Barrett Wentz, known professionally as Joey Wentz, is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Detroit Tigers, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Minnesota Twins. The Braves originally selected Wentz with the 40th overall pick in the 2016 MLB draft and later traded him to the Tigers in 2019, where he made his major league debut in 2022.
Born and raised in the Kansas City metropolitan area, Wentz developed into a highly regarded pitching prospect through his high school years and minor league progression. A left-handed pitcher with a tall frame, he has navigated injuries and roster changes across multiple organizations while continuing to contribute at the major league level.
Early Life and Background
Wentz was born on October 6, 1997, in Prairie Village, Kansas, to Dave and Jenny Wentz. He grew up in Prairie Village and first met fellow aspiring pitcher Riley Pint in second grade, beginning a friendship that would connect the two throughout their baseball careers. The Kansas City area and its strong baseball culture provided a formative environment for his early athletic development.
Wentz attended Shawnee Mission East High School in Prairie Village, Kansas, where he starred on the baseball team. He was named the Sunflower League Player of the Year in both 2015 and 2016, earning the recognition during his junior and senior seasons. In 2015, Wentz won the Junior Home Run Derby at the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, hitting one home run that traveled 543 feet, a remarkable display of power for a pitcher.
Path to Baseball
Heading into the 2016 MLB draft, Wentz had committed to the University of Virginia, but he had been scouted extensively by major league teams throughout his high school career. Considered a likely first-round pick, he was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the first Competitive Balance round with the 40th overall selection. Rather than attend college, Wentz signed with the Braves for $3.05 million, beginning his professional career.
Wentz started his professional career with the Gulf Coast Braves of the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League before being promoted to the Danville Braves of the Rookie-level Appalachian League during the 2016 season. He posted a 1–4 win-loss record with a 3.68 earned run average and 53 strikeouts across 44 innings pitched. In 2017, he advanced to the Rome Braves, where he went 8–3 with a 2.60 ERA in 26 starts, and in 2018, he pitched for the Florida Fire Frogs, finishing 3–4 with a 2.28 ERA in 16 starts, demonstrating steady progress through the Braves’ minor league system.
Joey Wentz Career
Early Career (2016–2018)
Wentz’s first professional seasons unfolded entirely within the Atlanta Braves organization. After his debut in the Gulf Coast League in 2016, he steadily climbed the minor league ladder, gaining experience at each level. His strong 2017 campaign with the Rome Braves established him as one of the organization’s top pitching prospects.
His 2018 season with the Florida Fire Frogs further cemented his prospect status, with a 2.28 ERA across 16 starts. On July 31, 2019, the Braves traded Wentz and Travis Demeritte to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for reliever Shane Greene, ending his time in the Atlanta system.
Detroit Tigers Era (2019–2024)
Wentz began his time in the Tigers organization at the Double-A level, where he went 7–8 with a 4.20 ERA and 137 strikeouts in 128 and two-thirds innings. He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and he underwent Tommy John surgery in March of that year, keeping him out of the Tigers’ alternate training site. On November 20, 2020, Detroit added Wentz to its 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.
Wentz began the 2021 season at Triple-A Toledo and worked his way back from surgery with stints at Single-A Lakeland and Double-A Erie, going 0–7 with a 5.25 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 72 innings. On May 11, 2022, he was recalled and promoted to the majors for the first time to start against the Oakland Athletics. In his third start, on September 9, 2022, Wentz earned his first major league win against the Kansas City Royals, allowing no runs across six and two-thirds innings while striking out five. In 2023, Wentz pitched in 25 games with 19 starts, going 3–13 with a 6.90 ERA. In 2024, he struggled to a 5.37 ERA in 38 appearances before being designated for assignment by Detroit on August 30.
Pittsburgh Pirates Era (2024–2025)
On September 3, 2024, Wentz was claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates, and because he was out of minor league options, he reported directly to the major league club. In eight appearances down the stretch, Wentz recorded a 1.50 ERA with 13 strikeouts across 12 innings of work, providing a strong late-season contribution.
Wentz made 19 appearances for Pittsburgh to begin the 2025 season, posting a 2–1 record and 4.15 ERA with 22 strikeouts over 26 innings. He was designated for assignment by the Pirates on June 7, 2025.
Minnesota Twins Era (2025)
On June 11, 2025, Wentz was claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Twins. In six appearances for Minnesota, he struggled to a 15.75 ERA with six strikeouts across eight innings. Wentz was designated for assignment by the Twins on July 9, 2025.
Atlanta Braves Second Stint (2025–Present)
On July 11, 2025, Wentz was claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Braves, returning to the organization that originally drafted him. He made his Braves debut the following day, pitching three scoreless innings and recording six strikeouts, establishing a franchise record for strikeouts in a debut by a reliever. The return to Atlanta marked a notable full-circle moment in his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Wentz’s career has featured several memorable moments, including his 2015 Junior Home Run Derby title and his 543-foot blast at the All-Star Game. His first major league win against the Kansas City Royals in 2022, in which he delivered six and two-thirds scoreless innings, stands as a career milestone. Most recently, his record-setting six-strikeout debut with the Braves in 2025 highlighted his resilience and strikeout ability.
Joey Wentz Career Wins
Wentz has recorded multiple major league wins across his tenures with the Detroit Tigers and Pittsburgh Pirates, with his first coming against the Kansas City Royals in September 2022. His late-season stint with Pittsburgh in 2024 produced some of his most effective major league work to that point, posting a 1.50 ERA over eight appearances.
Major League Highlights
In his first full major league season with the Tigers in 2023, Wentz earned three wins across 25 appearances. With Pittsburgh in 2025, he added two more wins in 19 appearances, bringing his verified major league win total to at least five.
Other Wins and Performances
Wentz’s minor league career includes a strong 8–3 record with the Rome Braves in 2017 and a 7–8 mark at Double-A in 2019. His consistent strikeout totals across levels established him as a reliable pitcher with swing-and-miss ability.
Joey Wentz Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Wentz is the son of Dave Wentz and Jenny Wentz. He grew up in Prairie Village, Kansas, with strong family support that helped shape his path through high school baseball and into the professional ranks.
Personal Life
Wentz maintains close ties to his family, including his longtime friendship with Riley Pint, whom he met in second grade. Public details about his personal relationships and current residence are not widely documented.
2025 Season Performance
Wentz’s 2025 season has been defined by frequent movement across organizations. After posting a 2–1 record and 4.15 ERA in 19 appearances with the Pittsburgh Pirates to begin the year, he was designated for assignment on June 7. He was then claimed by the Minnesota Twins on June 11, where a difficult 15.75 ERA in six appearances led to another designation on July 9.
The Atlanta Braves claimed Wentz off waivers on July 11, and his debut the next day delivered three scoreless innings and six strikeouts, setting a new franchise record for strikeouts in a debut by a reliever. The strong return to Atlanta offered a positive turning point in a turbulent season.
Looking ahead, Wentz’s role with the Braves will depend on his ability to build on the debut performance and provide reliable relief outings. His strikeout capability and prior major league experience position him as a potential bullpen contributor as the season progresses.