Tigers rookie lefty is dealing in Arizona Fall League

Detroit Tigers rookie left-hander Joey Wentz is picking up where he left off in the Arizona Fall League.

The 25-year-old, whose debut season was interrupted by injuries, was dispatched to Arizona after his final start with the Tigers on Oct. 2.

Since then, he’s made two starts for the Salt River Rafters of the AFL. In eight innings, he’s allowed just one hit while striking out 11.

He’s been named the league’s pitcher of the week in back-to-back weeks.

The Tigers sent Wentz to the AFL hoping he could log some more innings and continue the progress he made late in the season in Detroit, even if he doesn’t necessarily fit the profile of a typical AFL player, virtually all of whom have yet to play in the big leagues.

“I think I had parts of my season where I wasn’t very good and I had parts of my season where I was really good,” Wentz said after his final start in Detroit. “I think that if I can take the last month and continue to build on that into next year, I can be who I want to be.”

Wentz was 2-2 record with a 3.03 ERA in seven starts (32 2/3 innings) for the Tigers. He walked 13 and struck out 27.

“I think he should walk away very proud that he’s in the mix for something (in 2023),” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said after Wentz’s final start. “He’s very competitive and he expects a lot out of himself.”

Other Tigers playing in Arizona are: right-handed pitchers Jack Anderson (5 IP, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K) and Tyler Mattison (5 IP, 0 ER, 5 BB, 7 K); catcher Dillon Dingler (13 PA, 4 H, 4 BB, 2 K); infielders Colt Keith (33 PA, 7 H, 2 2B, 9 BB, 4 K) and Gage Workman (22 PA, 1 H, 1 BB, 10 K); and outfielder Parker Meadows (36 PA, 6 H, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 BB, 5 K).

If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.