A.J. Hinch Explains Why Top Tigers Prospect Joey Wentz Hasn't Pitched Since Late May

A.J. Hinch Explains Why Top Tigers Prospect Joey Wentz Hasn't Pitched Since Late May

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Detroit fans haven't seen top prospect Joey Wentz on the mound at any level since he was removed from his most recent start back on May 31. It turns out that an injury is the reason why as manager A.J. Hinch revealed the 24-year-old is dealing with a neck/shoulder issue similar to a pinched nerve.

Joey Wentz Injury Update

It's certainly not the news fans were hoping for at the moment. The severity of the issue isn't quite known yet and no recovery timeline has been set up. The organization's No. 11 prospect allowed only one hit over four scoreless innings on May 31 before experiencing substantial pain in his shoulder.

Wentz does not take up a spot on the team's current 26-man roster, so the Tigers can afford to proceed with caution here. Losing another starting-caliber pitcher still stings, though. Eduardo Rodriguez, Michael Pineda, Matt Manning and Casey Mize are all on the injured list for the time being.

That does mean that a rotation spot could be up for grabs when Wentz makes his return later this season. The former first-round pick owns a career ERA of 3.50 and a WHIP of 1.22 in the minor leagues. Wentz has also struck out 34 batters across 26.2 innings pitched at Triple-A in 2022.

The Tigers sit 9.0 games back of first place in the American League Central and remain a long shot to win the World Series with odds set at +75000, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

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