The Atlanta Braves have been floundering lately as they fall further out of the National League playoff race. At 29-38, FanGraphs gives the Braves a 26.6% chance to make the playoffs but the number is dropping by the day as Atlanta struggles to find their footing after stumbling out of the gate.
While many factors have led to the decline, so has the Braves’ recent performance in the draft. Ian Anderson and Ryan Cusick are just two names in recent history that have taken a tour of the major leagues after being drafted by Atlanta in the first round and another former first-round pick is on his way to a new team after being designated for assignment earlier this week.
Former Braves Draft Pick Joey Wentz Claimed by Twins
The Minnesota Twins announced that they have claimed left-handed pitcher and former Braves first-round pick Joey Wentz from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night. Wentz spent just under a year with Pirates as a reliever, going 3-1 with a 3.32 ERA in 27 appearances but he had struggled this season, allowing a 4.15 ERA in 26 innings before he was designated for assignment on June 8.
We have made the following roster move: pic.twitter.com/EdMKpKzuZY
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) June 11, 2025
Before that Wentz was selected with the 40th overall pick by the Braves in the draft and spent four seasons in the organization before he was traded to the Detroit Tigers in a deal for reliever Shane Greene. A former top-100 prospect, Wentz made his major league debut for Detroit in 2022 but stumbled to go 3-13 with a 6.90 ERA in 25 games (19 starts) in 2023.
Wentz was moved to the bullpen the following year and posted a 5.37 ERA in 38 appearances before he was designated for assignment. He pitched well after being claimed by the Pirates, posting a 1.50 ERA in his final eight appearances but regressed this season allowing an average exit velocity of 92.4 mph according to Baseball Savant.
The Twins bullpen could use the jump with Danny Coulombe representing the lone left-hander on the roster, but it’s not a given considering Wentz hasn’t had sustained success in the major leagues. Either way, it’s another chapter for a failed first-round draft pick for the Braves.