Kansas City — It’s hard to imagine a start more nerve-wracking and exciting than your first Major League start. But for Tigers lefty Joey Wentz, this one may top it.
Manager AJ Hinch announced on Monday that Wentz will be called up and join the rotation, replacing Michael Pineda, who was given his outright release earlier this week.
Wentz’s next start?
How about Friday against the Royals, the team he grew up rooting for, in the stadium (Kauffman) where he went to games with his family and friends. Heady stuff for a kid from Prairie Village, about 14 miles south of Kansas City.
“Nice little homecoming for him,” Hinch told reporters in Anaheim on Monday.
And given that his MLB debut on May 11 was rough (six runs in less than three innings), Wentz has a chance to make a special memory for himself while making an early play for a rotation spot next season.
Wentz is a local hero around here, a two-time player of the year in his conference and the state’s All-Metro player of the year for Shawnee Mission East in 2016. He was a two-way threat, too, hitting nearly .400 his senior season.
That earned him a supplemental first-round draft slot, No. 40 to the Braves. The Tigers acquired him in 2019 in a trade for right-hander Shane Greene.
But it’s a bumpy road. First with Tommy John surgery and the pandemic shutdown ganging up on him in 2020 and then, during his second start with the Tigers on May 31, he developed soreness and inflammation in his neck and shoulder.
Two months and a successful stint at Triple-A Toledo later, he’s back. And unlike his first two starts, this one won’t be a one-and-done.
“We expect him to be in the rotation,” Hinch said. “With the difficult decision to let go of Michael Pineda, it gives a runway of three, four, five starts for Wentz. Things can change, but the goal will be for him to make all those starts as we get into September, early October.
“Give him a fresh look at what this is like and hopefully help us evaluate him for next year.”
The Tigers will have to clear a spot on the active roster to make room for Wentz. They called up reliever Luis Castillo on Sunday after Pineda was designated for assignment.
There is a chance, too, that second baseman Jonathan Schoop is activated before the Tigers play the Royals Friday. He’s missed the last 15 games because of an ankle sprain.
In five rehab games — two at High-A West Michigan and three at Toledo — Schoop is 5-for-16 with four walks and no strikeouts.
If he is activated, that will require another corresponding roster move.
On deck: Royals
Series: Three games at Kauffman Stadium
First pitch: Friday – 8:10 p.m.; Saturday – 7:10: Sunday – 2:10 p.m.
TV/radio: Friday – Bally Sports Detroit, MLBN, 97.1; Saturday-Sunday – Bally Sports Detroit, 97.1.
Probables: Friday – LHP Joey Wentz (0-1, 8.10) vs. LHP Daniel Lynch (4-9, 4.82); Saturday – RHP Matt Manning (1-2, 3.86) vs. RHP Jonathan Heasley (3-7, 4.98); Sunday – LHP Tyler Alexander (3-9, 5.23) vs. RHP Brady Singer (7-4, 3.38).
Wentz, Tigers: Not too long ago, Wentz was the Kansas City prep All-Metro player of the year, so this will be a big start for him on a lot of levels. After missing two months because of a shoulder issue, he’s been on-point in his last four starts at Toledo, allowing two runs in 19 innings with 14 punch-outs and five walks.
Lynch, Royals: A week ago at Comerica Park, he was cruising through four innings, allowing just three hits. And then the Tigers got after him. Home runs by Willi Castro and Javier Baez keyed a four-run fifth inning, to which Lynch contributed two walks, as well. His slider has been a bit feast or famine. He’s got a 34% whiff rate with it, but it’s also been tagged for seven of the 15 homers he’s allowed.
Twitter: @cmccosky