A pitcher from the Atlanta Braves was carted off the field on Sunday.
The Atlanta Braves have already been forced to deal with early pitching concerns this spring, making the health of their remaining depth options even more important as the season approaches.
Two of Atlanta's promising young right‑handers, Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep, will both miss extended time after undergoing procedures on their right elbows. The injuries have created additional pressure on the organization’s pitching depth heading into the regular season.
That situation places increased importance on veteran left‑hander Joey Wentz, who has been viewed as a potential depth starter while the club navigates those absences.
Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos has also indicated the team is unlikely to pursue another starting pitcher in free agency, meaning internal options like Wentz could play a key role.
That is why there was understandable concern when Wentz exited Sunday's spring training game against the Tampa Bay Rays with an injury scare. Fortunately, it appears that Wentz avoided a serious setback.
“Joey Wentz's right leg will continue to be examined and the Braves will give an update tomorrow. But initial tests indicate he may have avoided a serious injury,” reported Mark Bowman of MLB.com.
Wentz suffered the injury in the fifth inning while covering first base, stepping awkwardly and colliding with the baserunner, Taylor Walls, on the play.
Fortunately for the Braves, the early indications appear encouraging. Avoiding a significant injury would be a major relief for a team already dealing with multiple pitchers sidelined for the foreseeable future.
Wentz’s presence is particularly important because of the reliability he showed during his time with Atlanta last season. After the Braves claimed him off waivers in July 2025, he stepped into a valuable role for the pitching staff.
During that stretch, Wentz made 13 starts and one relief appearance while providing much‑needed innings. Across 64 innings pitched, he recorded 64 strikeouts and posted a 4.92 ERA. While those numbers were not dominant, they demonstrated his ability to step in and stabilize the staff when needed.
The left‑hander’s history with the Braves organization also adds an interesting layer to his story. Atlanta originally selected Wentz in the first round of the 2016 MLB Draft before trading him to the Detroit Tigers in 2019. After several seasons bouncing between organizations, he eventually found his way back when Atlanta claimed him last summer.
Now, with injuries already affecting the rotation depth, Wentz could once again play an important role for the Braves if he remains healthy heading into the 2026 season.