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Detroit Tigers designate left-handed reliever Joey Wentz for assignment
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- Detroit Tigers designate left-handed reliever Joey Wentz for assignment
The Joey Wentz era is over.
The Detroit Tigers designated Wentz, a left-handed reliever, for assignment before Friday's game against the Boston Red Sox at Comerica Park, according to multiple sources not at liberty to discuss roster moves publicly. The move removes Wentz from the 40-man roster, thus opening a spot for the return of right-hander Casey Mize from the 60-day injured list.
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Wentz, 26, posted a 5.37 ERA with 27 walks and 60 strikeouts in 55⅓ innings in 38 relief appearances this season.
Detroit Tigers pitcher Joey Wentz (43) reacts after he was struck by a batted ball in the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Comerica Park in Detroit on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024.
Wentz is out of minor league options, which is why the Tigers couldn't simply send him to Triple-A Toledo. He is available to the 29 other teams on waivers. If he clears waivers, he doesn't have enough service time (or a previous outright) to reject an assignment to the minor leagues, so the Tigers would keep him.
In July 2019, the Tigers acquired Wentz (and outfielder Travis Demeritte ) from the Atlanta Braves for right-handed reliever Shane Greene . The Braves selected Wentz with the No. 40 overall pick in the 2016 draft.
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Wentz, who made his MLB debut in May 2022, appeared in 70 games (26 starts) across his three-year MLB career with the Tigers, posting a 5.81 ERA. Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold .
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers reliever Joey Wentz designated for assignment
