Detroit Tigers: Joey Wentz looking for a comeback season in 2021
By Tyler Kotila
If the Detroit Tigers want to make the most of their 2019 trade deadline deals, Joey Wentz needs to have a bounce-back season in 2021.
As the Detroit Tigers start evaluating the state of their organization, they have to take a look at prior trades to see if the organization really won them or not. Looking back to 2019, the Tigers acquired Joey Wentz in the trade that sent Shane Greene to the Atlanta Braves.
There was upside with Wentz who is a prospect with a high ceiling, however, injuries have continued to prove a struggle for him. If the Tigers are going to “win” this trade, they will have to hope that Wentz is able to get back to finding success on the mound.
The 2020 season is not counted against him as he was on the sidelines with an injury. Wentz underwent Tommy John Surgery and is now on the comeback and looking to get back to the level he was at prior to the injury issues.
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Wentz is 23 years old and has not played a game in Triple-A or higher during his four seasons in the minors.
The 2020 season was a unique one since there was no minor league baseball, but Wentz was on the sidelines regardless, with his Tommy John Surgery.
In 2019, before his injury, he played for two affiliates, both the Braves Double-A affiliate and the Tigers Double-A one as well.
He made 25 total starts where he posted a 7-8 record while managing a 4.20 ERA, a 1.24 WHIP, and collecting 137 punchouts over 128.2 innings of work.
The Tigers prospect southpaw showcases a three-pitch mix with a nasty changeup that allows him to find some success.
He will now just have to hope that he can return to the level of play he was forecasted to be prior to the surgery.
The issue is that Wentz has to work to get back to 100% which can be tough for any player who undergoes surgery. However, The time off leading into the 2021 season allows him to start working through his recovery and hopefully work to get back to the mound as soon as possible.
The Tigers are going to have to head into the 2021 season, looking to get Wentz back and see what he can do on the mound after Tommy John Surgery. As the offseason presses on and the Tigers start moving towards Spring Training, hopefully, Wentz can keep working through his recovery.
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Keep an eye on Joey Wentz heading into the 2021 season, the Detroit Tigers should be looking for a comeback season out of the southpaw.