Pirates claim Joey Wentz off waivers from Detroit Tigers; Wenceel Pérez starts rehab games
Joey Wentz has joined a new team.
The Pittsburgh Pirates claimed Wentz, a 26-year-old left-handed reliever, off waivers Tuesday from the Detroit Tigers, just four days after the Tigers designated him for assignment. Wentz doesn't have any minor league options remaining, so he will join the Pirates' 28-man active roster.
For the Tigers, Wentz posted a 5.37 ERA with 27 walks and 60 strikeouts in 55⅓ innings across 38 relief appearances in the 2024 season. He used to be a starting pitcher, but poor performance in 2023 pushed him to the bullpen in 2024.
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Wentz, who turns 27 in early October, was the No. 40 overall pick in the 2016 draft out of high school. The Tigers acquired Wentz as one of two players from the Atlanta Braves in the Shane Greene trade at the 2019 deadline.
He spent the entire 2020 season recovering from Tommy John surgery.
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Wentz owns a 5.81 ERA with 87 walks and 185 strikeouts across 193⅔ innings in his MLB career, spanning 70 games (26 starts) in parts of three seasons. He throws four pitches: four-seam fastball, cutter, changeup and curveball.
His 30.2% whiff rate ranks in the 83rd percentile among MLB pitchers in 2024, while his 23.6% strikeout rate ranks in the 57th percentile. His 10.6% walk rate, however, ranks in the 19th percentile.
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Wenceel Pérez begins rehab assignment
Outfielder Wenceel Pérez began a rehab assignment Monday with Triple-A Toledo in his return from a left oblique strain. The 24-year-old finished 0-for-2 with one walk and one strikeout in three plate appearances, serving as the designated hitter.
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Pérez, a switch-hitter, took all three trips to the plate as a left-handed hitter against right-handed pitchers. His left-handed swing is ahead of his right-handed swing in the recovery process.
Before the injury, Pérez hit .242 with nine home runs, 27 walks and 76 strikeouts in 97 games. On defense, he struggled in center field but was above-average in right field.
Pérez hasn't played for the Tigers since Aug. 9.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Pittsburgh Pirates claim Joey Wentz off waivers from Detroit Tigers
