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Where Are They Now: Joey Wentz

April 26, 2020
Andy Urban and Tino Abarca
Kansas Staff

In our Where Are They Now Series, we highlight prospects to see where they are now and how they got there. From attending PBR events to now performing at some of the highest levels the game has to offer, these prospects are interesting follows. Without further ado, let's begin.

Joey Wentz, a Shawnee Mission East grad, checked all the boxes in his young career. Attended the PBR Future Games, the Super 60, and he was named the Sunflower League Player of the Year in 2015 and 2016. Wentz won the 2015 Junior Home Run Derby at the MLB All-Star Game in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was a special two-way talent before becoming strictly a LHP.

At the Super 60, he elevated his draft stock to new heights and received high praise from our executive director and president, Sean Duncan, in this piece.

"Wentz’s fastball sat at 92 mph, topping at 93, with late arm-side finish," said Duncan, recapping Wentz's Super 60 bullpen. "No player raised his draft status more at last year’s Super 60 than Wentz, who decided to put down the bat and come only as a pitcher. After his bullpen was finished, he had established himself as one of the top left-handed prospects in the country."

Wentz (2/7/16)

 

Wentz was committed to the University of Virginia but opted to sign with the Atlanta Braves after being selected by them in the first round (40th overall pick). 

 

 

Wentz began his career in rookie ball with the Danville Braves and GCL Braves. After spending 2018 in Single-A, he was promoted to Double-A in 2019 and played for the Mississippi Braves of the Southern League. Then, approaching the July trade deadline, the Braves and Detroit Tigers agreed to to terms to trade Wentz and another prospect for Shane Greene.

 

 

All Wentz has done since joining the Tigers system is post a 2-0 record in five starts. He has K'd 37 in 25.2 innings pitched for th Erie SeaWolves. On Aug. 31, 2019, Wentz tied his career-high of 10 K's against Akron and pitched 5.1 innings. 

Wentz had nothing but momentum heading into 2020 and big league camp.

 

 

Just over a month ago, Wentz underwent Tommy John surgery which will sideline him for roughly the next year. 

 

Upon his return, expect to see him continue playing at a high level. As a highly touted prospect in every organization and system he has been in since high school, there's no question Wentz has an incredibly high ceiling that he is barely scratching the surface on. We'll continue to follow Wentz's career and wish him the best throughout rehabilitation.

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