Joey Wentz Stats & Scouting Report

IP	55.1
ERA	5.37
WHIP	1.57
BB/9	4.39
SO/9	9.76

Full name Joseph Barrett Wentz
Born 10/06/1997 in Lawrence, KS
Profile Ht.: 6'5" / Wt.: 220 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School Shawnee Mission East
Debut 05/11/2022
Drafted in the CB-A round (40th overall) by the Atlanta Braves in 2016 (signed for $3,050,000).

View Draft Report

Scouts have been waiting for the day Wentz was draft eligible since he began impressing as a skinny 6-foot-5 sophomore with a low-80s fastball and plenty of room to grow. He's filled out since then to become a power lefty with present stuff and the potential to add even a little more as he reaches his 20s. A first baseman with plus raw power and swing-and-miss issues on the showcase circuit last summer, Wentz is much more intriguing as a 89-96 mph lefthander with a potentially plus low-to-mid-70s curveball and some feel for a changeup. Wentz didn't give up a hit until his fifth start of the season–he had one hit allowed in his first 30 innings. A Virginia commit, Wentz combination of potentially plus stuff and advanced control will likely keep him from pitching for the Cavaliers.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: The Tigers dipped into the Braves' surplus of starting pitching prospects to acquire Wentz in 2019 at the trade deadline in exchange for Shane Greene. Soon thereafter he suffered an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery. He returned to action in May 2021. He suffered a left shoulder strain in 2022, but he did throw 86 innings and made his MLB debut on May 11.

Scouting Report: Wentz has long been known as a soft-tossing lefty who tries to keep hitters off balance by mixing his pitches. He added an average cutter in 2022, which gives him a harder breaking ball (81-84 mph) that he can consistently throw for strikes. Wentz' fringe-average four-seam fastball touches 95-96, but he sits 91-93. He works up in the zone with his fastball, while the cutter works in on righthanded hitters and down and away from lefties. Wentz's fringe-average slow 73-77 mph curveball and average low-80s changeup are effective when he's tickling the black with them. Both are more chase pitches than swing-and-miss offerings. Wentz's control is fringe-average although he has better command than that. He doesn't have the stuff to sit in the zone, so he has to nibble.

The Future: After a successful return from Tommy John surgery, Wentz looks ready to handle a back-of-the-rotation role as a lefty with plenty of guile.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 45. Cutter: 50. Curveball: 50. Changeup: 55. Control: 50.
Track Record: The Tigers acquired Wentz in the 2019 trade that sent Shane Greene to the Braves, but the lefthander suffered an elbow injury shortly after that required Tommy John surgery. He returned to the mound in 2021 and went an unsightly 0-7, 4.50 in 18 starts between High-A and Double-A, but he struck out 10.3 batters per nine innings and got better as the year went on.

Scouting Report: Wentz is a big, physical presence at 6-foot-5, 220 pounds and has feel to manipulate his three-pitch mix and keep opposing batters on the defensive. His low-90s fastball plays up with late life and pairs well with his above-average, mid-80s changeup. He mixes in an average curveball with late break and mixes his pitches to keep batters guessing. Wentz’s control has long been fringe-average and he is erratic in general. He will often cruise for three or four innings before unraveling.

The Future: Wentz is still young and could see his stuff tick up as he moves farther away from surgery. He projects as a back-end starter who caps at five innings or a long reliever.
TRACK RECORD: Wentz was selected 40th overall by the Braves in 2016 and won South Atlantic League pitcher of the year in his first full season. He missed much of the 2018 season with an oblique injury and was traded to the Tigers in 2019 as part of the deal for Shane Greene. Instead of making his Tigers debut in 2020 as planned, Wentz had Tommy John surgery in March.

SCOUTING REPORT: Wentz leads his three-pitch mix with a fastball that sits comfortably at 91-93 mph with late life. While his fastball doesn't have the same velocity as the other top arms, its action through the zone is enough to generate plenty of swings and misses. Wentz complements his heater with a mid-tohigh-70s curveball with late break, making it difficult for opposing hitters to identify early. Wentz's mid 80s changeup is his strongest secondary offering and projects as an above-average pitch. Wentz projects to make a living off of his deception rather than overwhelming velocity.

THE FUTURE: Wentz still has more rehab time ahead of him. His pitch mix and durable frame allow him to project as a back-end starter.
TRACK RECORD: Drafted 40th overall by the Braves in 2016, Wentz missed much of 2018 with an oblique injury but bounced back to pitch more than 125 innings for the second time in three seasons in 2019. The Tigers acquired him at the trade deadline as part of the package for closer Shane Greene. Wentz cut down on his walks after reporting to Double-A Erie and finished the year with a flourish.

SCOUTING REPORT: Wentz works comfortably in the low-90s with his fastball. While it doesn't have blazing velocity, his fastball plays up with plus vertical movement and works effectively at the top of the zone and above it. Wentz's breaking ball is a mid-to-upper 70s slider that has inconsistent shape and blends with the appearance of an overhand curveball. His best secondary offering is a changeup in the low-to-mid 80s that projects as a future above-average pitch. His control has improved but doesn't project as more than average.

THE FUTURE: Wentz has a frame built for innings and a three-pitch mix that allow him to project as a starter. He has a chance to pitch at the back of a rotation.
Track Record: About the only thing that slowed down Wentz in 2018 was the disabled list. He missed significant time with an oblique injury, but when he was on the mound he was among the most effective pitchers in the Florida State League. He had a 29-inning scoreless streak at one point in 2018.

Scouting Report: Wentz lost a little velocity in the adjustment to the five-day schedule of pro ball, but he's regained it. His 90-95 mph fastball plays even better than its radar gun reading because he gets good plane from his high overhand release point. Wentz spots his fastball precisely with above-average command even if he has only average control because he doesn't give in. Wentz mixes in a future above-average curveball and plus changeup. He's a solid fielder and limits the running game.

The Future: Wentz would have likely made it to Double-A last year if not for his oblique injury. There are many, many starting pitchers in the farm system between Wentz and the big leagues, but it's hard not to be impressed with his feel and solid stuff. His ceiling is as a solid mid-rotation starter.
A lanky, power-hitting first baseman who blossomed into one of the better lefthanders in the 2016 draft class with an outstanding senior season of high school, Wentz's first full pro season in 2017 was outstanding. He finished second in the South Atlantic League in strikeouts (152), third in opponent average (.209) and fourth in ERA (2.60). Wentz's approach and stuff draws comparisons with Kolby Allard's, because both are lefties with 88-92 mph fastballs and above-average changeups. Wentz stuck his above-average curveball in his back pocket for some starts as he worked on refining his changeup, and the focus on his change did seem to lessen his feel for his curve. It paid off in the sense that his changeup has developed into a difference maker, but the hope in the long run is that he'll be throwing a pair of above-average offspeed pitches. Wentz's fastball is an average pitch right now, and he's touched 96 mph in the past, so some believe that the skinny lefty will add more velocity as he fills out. Scouts debate how much projection he has left. If he adds another two or three ticks to his fastball, Wentz has the makings of a front-line starter, but any erosion of his current velocity would lead him into fringe territory.
A two-way prep standout with a power bat at first base, Wentz overcame a dead arm following his junior season to reemerge as premier pitcher with physical projection remaining. The 40th overall pick in 2016, Wentz signed for an above-slot $3.05 million to forgo a Virginia commitment and earned a promotion to Rookie-level Danville after four dominant Rookie-level Gulf Coast League outings. Scouts love Wentz's tall, lanky build, his easy, repeatable mechanics and his potential as he adds strength and maturity. A decent athlete who repeats his short arm action with consistency, he uses his 6-foot-5 frame to his advantage by pitching downhill and extending toward the plate. Despite struggling with walks at Danville, he has demonstrated at least average control of three pitches. His fastball has good armside run down in the zone and sat at 87-91 mph in pro ball after touching 96 in high school. His upper-70s curveball has late depth, and he shows an advanced feel for a changeup with fade that flashes plus potential. With as much pitching depth as the Braves have in the minors, Wentz can move slowly and spend the entire 2017 season at low Class A Rome. Long-term, he has the ability to be at least a No. 3 starter in the big leagues.

Draft Prospects

Scouts have been waiting for the day Wentz was draft eligible since he began impressing as a skinny 6-foot-5 sophomore with a low-80s fastball and plenty of room to grow. He's filled out since then to become a power lefty with present stuff and the potential to add even a little more as he reaches his 20s. A first baseman with plus raw power and swing-and-miss issues on the showcase circuit last summer, Wentz is much more intriguing as a 89-96 mph lefthander with a potentially plus low-to-mid-70s curveball and some feel for a changeup. Wentz didn't give up a hit until his fifth start of the season–he had one hit allowed in his first 30 innings. A Virginia commit, Wentz combination of potentially plus stuff and advanced control will likely keep him from pitching for the Cavaliers.

Minor League Top Prospects

Wentz focused on pitching in the spring and showed significant progress, prompting the Braves to sign him for $3.05 million. He thrived in four starts in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League to earn a promotion to Danville. Wentz has a short, repeatable arm action and some athleticism in his delivery. His long limbs help him get deep extension towards the plate and pitch downhill. His fastball reached the mid-90s this spring but topped out at 93 mph and sat 87-91 with four days of rest. Some evaluators thought Wentz's best offspeed pitch was his curveball, a deep vertical breaker that shows late depth and competes in the strike zone. Others favored his changeup, which earned above-average to plus reviews.

Scouting Reports

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: The Tigers dipped into the Braves' surplus of starting pitching prospects to acquire Wentz in 2019 at the trade deadline in exchange for Shane Greene. Soon thereafter he suffered an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery. He returned to action in May 2021. He suffered a left shoulder strain in 2022, but he did throw 86 innings and made his MLB debut on May 11.

Scouting Report: Wentz has long been known as a soft-tossing lefty who tries to keep hitters off balance by mixing his pitches. He added an average cutter in 2022, which gives him a harder breaking ball (81-84 mph) that he can consistently throw for strikes. Wentz' fringe-average four-seam fastball touches 95-96, but he sits 91-93. He works up in the zone with his fastball, while the cutter works in on righthanded hitters and down and away from lefties. Wentz's fringe-average slow 73-77 mph curveball and average low-80s changeup are effective when he's tickling the black with them. Both are more chase pitches than swing-and-miss offerings. Wentz's control is fringe-average although he has better command than that. He doesn't have the stuff to sit in the zone, so he has to nibble.

The Future: After a successful return from Tommy John surgery, Wentz looks ready to handle a back-of-the-rotation role as a lefty with plenty of guile.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 45. Cutter: 50. Curveball: 50. Changeup: 55. Control: 50.
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: The Tigers dipped into the Braves' surplus of starting pitching prospects to acquire Wentz in 2019 at the trade deadline in exchange for Shane Greene. Soon thereafter he suffered an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery. He returned to action in May 2021. He suffered a left shoulder strain in 2022, but he did throw 86 innings and made his MLB debut on May 11.

Scouting Report: Wentz has long been known as a soft-tossing lefty who tries to keep hitters off balance by mixing his pitches. He added an average cutter in 2022, which gives him a harder breaking ball (81-84 mph) that he can consistently throw for strikes. Wentz' fringe-average four-seam fastball touches 95-96, but he sits 91-93. He works up in the zone with his fastball, while the cutter works in on righthanded hitters and down and away from lefties. Wentz's fringe-average slow 73-77 mph curveball and average low-80s changeup are effective when he's tickling the black with them. Both are more chase pitches than swing-and-miss offerings. Wentz's control is fringe-average although he has better command than that. He doesn't have the stuff to sit in the zone, so he has to nibble.

The Future: After a successful return from Tommy John surgery, Wentz looks ready to handle a back-of-the-rotation role as a lefty with plenty of guile.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 45. Cutter: 50. Curveball: 50. Changeup: 55. Control: 50.
BA Grade: 45/High

Track Record: The Tigers acquired Wentz in the 2019 trade that sent Shane Greene to the Braves, but the lefthander suffered an elbow injury shortly after that required Tommy John surgery. He returned to the mound in 2021 and went an unsightly 0-7, 4.50 in 18 starts between High-A and Double-A, but he struck out 10.3 batters per nine innings and got better as the year went on.

Scouting Report: Wentz is a big, physical presence at 6-foot-5, 220 pounds and has feel to manipulate his three-pitch mix and keep opposing batters on the defensive. His low-90s fastball plays up with late life and pairs well with his above-average, mid-80s changeup. He mixes in an average curveball with late break and mixes his pitches to keep batters guessing. Wentz&#39s control has long been fringe-average and he is erratic in general. He will often cruise for three or four innings before unraveling.

The Future: Wentz is still young and could see his stuff tick up as he moves farther away from surgery. He projects as a back-end starter who caps at five innings or a long reliever.

Scouting Grades:Fastball: 55. Curveball: 50. Changeup: 55. Control: 45.
Track Record: The Tigers acquired Wentz in the 2019 trade that sent Shane Greene to the Braves, but the lefthander suffered an elbow injury shortly after that required Tommy John surgery. He returned to the mound in 2021 and went an unsightly 0-7, 4.50 in 18 starts between High-A and Double-A, but he struck out 10.3 batters per nine innings and got better as the year went on.

Scouting Report: Wentz is a big, physical presence at 6-foot-5, 220 pounds and has feel to manipulate his three-pitch mix and keep opposing batters on the defensive. His low-90s fastball plays up with late life and pairs well with his above-average, mid-80s changeup. He mixes in an average curveball with late break and mixes his pitches to keep batters guessing. Wentz’s control has long been fringe-average and he is erratic in general. He will often cruise for three or four innings before unraveling.

The Future: Wentz is still young and could see his stuff tick up as he moves farther away from surgery. He projects as a back-end starter who caps at five innings or a long reliever.
TRACK RECORD: Wentz was selected 40th overall by the Braves in 2016 and won South Atlantic League pitcher of the year in his first full season. He missed much of the 2018 season with an oblique injury and was traded to the Tigers in 2019 as part of the deal for Shane Greene. Instead of making his Tigers debut in 2020 as planned, Wentz had Tommy John surgery in March.

SCOUTING REPORT: Wentz leads his three-pitch mix with a fastball that sits comfortably at 91-93 mph with late life. While his fastball doesn't have the same velocity as the other top arms, its action through the zone is enough to generate plenty of swings and misses. Wentz complements his heater with a mid-tohigh-70s curveball with late break, making it difficult for opposing hitters to identify early. Wentz's mid 80s changeup is his strongest secondary offering and projects as an above-average pitch. Wentz projects to make a living off of his deception rather than overwhelming velocity.

THE FUTURE: Wentz still has more rehab time ahead of him. His pitch mix and durable frame allow him to project as a back-end starter.
TRACK RECORD: Wentz was selected 40th overall by the Braves in 2016 and won South Atlantic League pitcher of the year in his first full season. He missed much of the 2018 season with an oblique injury and was traded to the Tigers in 2019 as part of the deal for Shane Greene. Instead of making his Tigers debut in 2020 as planned, Wentz had Tommy John surgery in March.

SCOUTING REPORT: Wentz leads his three-pitch mix with a fastball that sits comfortably at 91-93 mph with late life. While his fastball doesn't have the same velocity as the other top arms, its action through the zone is enough to generate plenty of swings and misses. Wentz complements his heater with a mid-tohigh-70s curveball with late break, making it difficult for opposing hitters to identify early. Wentz's mid 80s changeup is his strongest secondary offering and projects as an above-average pitch. Wentz projects to make a living off of his deception rather than overwhelming velocity.

THE FUTURE: Wentz still has more rehab time ahead of him. His pitch mix and durable frame allow him to project as a back-end starter.
TRACK RECORD: Wentz was selected 40th overall by the Braves in 2016 and won South Atlantic League pitcher of the year in his first full season. He missed much of the 2018 season with an oblique injury and was traded to the Tigers in 2019 as part of the deal for Shane Greene. Instead of making his Tigers debut in 2020 as planned, Wentz had Tommy John surgery in March.

SCOUTING REPORT: Wentz leads his three-pitch mix with a fastball that sits comfortably at 91-93 mph with late life. While his fastball doesn't have the same velocity as the other top arms, its action through the zone is enough to generate plenty of swings and misses. Wentz complements his heater with a mid-tohigh-70s curveball with late break, making it difficult for opposing hitters to identify early. Wentz's mid 80s changeup is his strongest secondary offering and projects as an above-average pitch. Wentz projects to make a living off of his deception rather than overwhelming velocity.

THE FUTURE: Wentz still has more rehab time ahead of him. His pitch mix and durable frame allow him to project as a back-end starter.
TRACK RECORD: Drafted 40th overall by the Braves in 2016, Wentz missed much of 2018 with an oblique injury but bounced back to pitch more than 125 innings for the second time in three seasons in 2019. The Tigers acquired him at the trade deadline as part of the package for closer Shane Greene. Wentz cut down on his walks after reporting to Double-A Erie and finished the year with a flourish.

SCOUTING REPORT: Wentz works comfortably in the low-90s with his fastball. While it doesn’t have blazing velocity, his fastball plays up with plus vertical movement and works effectively at the top of the zone and above it. Wentz’s breaking ball is a mid-to-upper 70s slider that has inconsistent shape and blends with the appearance of an overhand curveball. His best secondary offering is a changeup in the low-to-mid 80s that projects as a future above-average pitch. His control has improved but doesn’t project as more than average.

THE FUTURE: Wentz has a frame built for innings and a three-pitch mix that allow him to project as a starter. He has a chance to pitch at the back of a rotation.
TRACK RECORD: Drafted 40th overall by the Braves in 2016, Wentz missed much of 2018 with an oblique injury but bounced back to pitch more than 125 innings for the second time in three seasons in 2019. The Tigers acquired him at the trade deadline as part of the package for closer Shane Greene. Wentz cut down on his walks after reporting to Double-A Erie and finished the year with a flourish.

SCOUTING REPORT: Wentz works comfortably in the low-90s with his fastball. While it doesn't have blazing velocity, his fastball plays up with plus vertical movement and works effectively at the top of the zone and above it. Wentz's breaking ball is a mid-to-upper 70s slider that has inconsistent shape and blends with the appearance of an overhand curveball. His best secondary offering is a changeup in the low-to-mid 80s that projects as a future above-average pitch. His control has improved but doesn't project as more than average.

THE FUTURE: Wentz has a frame built for innings and a three-pitch mix that allow him to project as a starter. He has a chance to pitch at the back of a rotation.