Joey Wentz originally entered the ranks of professional baseball all the way back in 2016 when the Braves took him in the first round of the MLB draft. More than nine years later, he finally got his first chance to pitch for them in a big-league game.
A Long Road to Atlanta
Wentz had only made it as high as Double-A in the Braves organization before being shipped to the Detroit Tigers as part of a deadline trade in July of 2019. The heralded lefty worked his way up through the Tigers' system, eventually making his MLB debut in 2022.
Failing to find much consistency either as a starter or reliever over a couple of years in Detroit, Wentz found himself on waivers before being picked up by Pittsburgh for the final month of last season. He was impressive in 12 innings of relief for the Pirates in September, posting a 1.50 ERA while punching out 13 batters.
That late-season success helped Wentz earn a role in the Pirates' bullpen coming out of spring this year. However, after recording a 4.15 ERA in 19 relief appearances, the now 27-year-old hurler hit the waiver wire again.
Wentz's next stop would be Minnesota, where things went from mediocre to awful. The former top-100 prospect (MLB.com) worked in six games for the Twins between June 12 and July 8. He was scored upon in five of them. Wentz was designated for assignment after being blasted for 14 total earned runs on 17 hits and nine walks in eight frames for the Twins.
Finally with the Braves
The Braves claimed Wentz from Minnesota this past Friday, completing his circle back to the franchise that originally selected and signed him as a teenager out of Prairie Village, Kansas. Out of minor league options, Wentz went directly into the Atlanta bullpen.
His Braves debut Saturday was something to see.
The six strikeouts from Joey Wentz today were the most in a #Braves debut in a relief appearance in Atlanta history. pic.twitter.com/oU6ca9CYwX
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 12, 2025
This is certainly one of, if not the highlight of Wentz's career to date, and one the Braves' beleaguered pitching staff was in sore need of. In a so-called "bullpen game," Wentz delivered his new club with three innings of no-hit baseball that included six strikeouts and only one walk.
After the Braves' 7-6 win over the Cardinals, Wentz said that he was "really happy" with the performance. “Kind of a whirlwind, coming into the day not having thrown the ball as well as I would like to."
This could be just the beginning of a real feel-good story in Atlanta for a team that has been beaten down by injuries and subpar performance all season. One thing is for sure: Wentz seems pleased to be back.