When the Atlanta Braves claimed Joey Wentz off waivers earlier in July, the move looked desperate. As fun as the narrative of Wentz returning to the team that drafted him was, he had also already played for two other teams just this season and hadn't started a game since 2023 when he posted a 6.90 ERA with the Tigers. The Braves were just looking for innings anywhere and Wentz just happened to be available at the right time.
Given the context at the time, Braves fans were just hoping Wentz wouldn't hurt himself or be completely embarrassing as Atlanta was out of replacement rotation options and help from the injured list wasn't coming until at least late August if at all this season.
Instead, Wentz has pitched his brains out and according to The Athletic's David O'Brien, it seems possible that Atlanta may have stumbled into a long-term rotation solution in the 27 year-old lefty.
It's early, but Braves may have struck gold with their reunion with Joey Wentz
In some ways, no one should be surprised that Wentz had this in him. After all, the Braves did pick him 40th overall in the 2016 MLB Draft as one of the better prep arms in his draft class. However, Wentz's career 5.59 ERA (which was worse before his 2025 run with the Braves) and bullpen conversation didn't inspire much confidence that he was capable of being a difference-making rotation arm.
So far, that is exactly what he has been. Thanks to elite extension and a pretty strong ability to miss bats, Wentz has posted a 2.38 ERA in an admittedly very small 11.1 inning sample with Atlanta. For a Braves team that has been desperate for something (anything really) to go right, claiming Wentz has turned out to be a delightful surprise. One can quibble with his walk rate and the quality of contact he gives up, but both of those issues have been muted since rejoining the Braves.
As O'Brien correctly pointed out, Wentz could also be a long-term solution if the Braves want him to be. Wentz is under team control via arbitration through 2028 which would make him a cheap solution to some of their pitching woes. It is still early and given Wentz's big league track record, a healthy amount of skepticism is warranted. However, everyone can agree that Wentz has been much better than anyone could have guessed.