The Braves grab a former first round pick
Since the Braves are running back the mid-2010s on the field, they probably figured why not grab a pitcher drafted in that era.
The #Braves today claimed LHP Joey Wentz off waivers from the Minnesota Twins and designated RHP Kevin Herget for assignment.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 11, 2025
The Braves have claimed their first round pick, 40th overall, from 2016 in left handed pitcher Joey Wentz today. Wentz has posted a 5.75/4.96/4.83 line over 239.2 innings between three teams. He sports a 94 MPH fastball, a cutter, a curve, and the occasional changeup. Should he make his debut, Wentz will have played for his fourth team in four years. The Braves have designated Kevin Herget for assignment, who after pitching for the Braves on July 1st, played on his fifth team in five years.
During the mid-2010s, the Braves were determined to get young pitchers with stuff and a history of not controlling it, claiming they could fix them. Wentz pretty much fit this mold perfectly, however they did grab him from high school so was still a lump of clay at the time. The 4.24 walks per nine innings career suggests he never fully put that part of his game together. However, he represents another left handed option out of the bullpen. Welcome back, Joey! You’re joining the big club the way you remembered it.